Downtown Rochester/Rochester Hills

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: AU COCHON IN BIRMINGHAM DOWNTOWNPUBLICATIONS.COM

DECEMBER 2015

DOWNTOWN R O C H E S T E R

•

R O C H E S T E R

H I L L S

TURF WARS ARTIFICIAL PLAYING FIELDS GAIN IN POPULARITY BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT HEALTH IMPACT STATE TAX TRIBUNAL: FEW VICTORIES FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES SEX OFFENDER LIST: CHANGES AND CHALLENGES TO SYSTEM ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

&KULVWPDV ZLWK 0HWUR'HWURLW IRU < HDUV &HOHEUDWLQJ

6SHFLDO 3ULFLQJ1RZ 'HWURLW 313-873-8300 Daily 10-6 Sunday 1-5

Parking lot adjoining

%ORRPILHOG +LOOV 248-642-3000 Daily 10-6 Thursday 10-8 Sunday 1-5

www.dittrichfurs.com

OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

Linda Rea Team

The

1002 N. Main Street, Rochester

LOCAL MATTERS. For the Linda Rea Team, that says it all.

We are more than just houses. We are family built on values to live by.

Our philosophy has helped make us the consistent top producer in Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township, with over $1 billion in career sales.

EXCEEDING OUR CLIENTS' EXPECTATIONS! Residential. Luxury Homes Sales. Condos.

New Construction. Leasing. Relocation Specialists.

Free Home Staging. Free Home Warranty ($300 Value) on New Listings. #1 Agent and #1 Listing and Sales Team for Rochester and Real Estate One

$ in Millions

Our Real Estate One Office at 1002 N. Main Street in Rochester provides you with a firm that has the largest share of the market.

All Star

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Market Share Totals

MKT 9.8%

Total $ Volume (by office) List $ Sell $ MKT 4.5%

Real Estate One Rochester

Real Estate One Troy

MKT 4.3%

Real Living Kee Realty

MKT 4.0%

Max Broock® Birmingham

MKT 3.7%

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel-Roch

MKT 3.4%

Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Hwwb

MKT 2.9%

MKT 2.9%

MKT 2.8%

MKT 2.6%

Hall & Hunter Birmingham

Colburn Mcdonald Asoc, Realtor

Century 21 Sakmar & Assoc

Century 21 Town & CountryRoch

*MLS Data Source: Realcomp 1/1/2015 – 10/29/2015

THE LINDA REA TEAM…RESPECTED • RECOMMENDED • REFERRED LINDA: 248.709.3786 PETE: 248.770.8660 PAULA: 248.770.8661 SHANA: 248.941.4525 DAVID: 586.552.7995

www.LindaReaTeam.com • Facebook.com/TheLindaReaTeam

DOWNTOWN12.15

19

Changes and challenges for Sex offender registry The Michigan sex offender registry, first created by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard when he was in the state Senate, is going through a number of challenges and changes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

Michigan Senate Republicans have shown their arrogance in a move to control election outcomes by eliminating straight-party voting and have allowed the Oakland County Executive election to move years to help preserve GOP control of that office.

CRIME LOCATOR

15

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

MUNICIPAL

50

Rochester resident loses battle over tree; expensive campaign for Rochester Hills mayor; new water, sewer rate ordinance; condo plan raises opposition; family still battling with city over homes damage; donations to local library, plus more.

FRONT/BACK

60

The latest on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in the front and the back of the house in metro Detroit area restaurants with a series of short takes on the latest news and gossip for the industry.

AT THE TABLE

63

J. March visits the new Au Cochon in Birmingham and finds promise in the latest restaurant opened by Zack Sklar who already has a number of eateries in Oakland.

THE COVER The Big, Bright Light Show in downtown Rochester, involving more than one million points of light for the holidays. The iconic holiday display will be viewable through January 3. The holiday celebration includes the annual Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 6. Downtown photo: Mark Hicks Photography

As Michigan's #1 Century 21 Firm, Our Continued Commitment to Excellence Provides You With Outstanding Service and Satisfaction

Rochester Hills - $174,900

Rochester Hills - $340,000

Rochester Hills - $379,000

3 Beds, 1 Bath, 1520 Sq Ft

4 Beds, 2.2 Baths, 2,886 Sq Ft

5 Beds, 3.1 Baths, 3,226 Sq Ft

Rochester - $489,900

Orion Township - $459,999

Macomb Township - $299,900

4 Beds, 2.1 Baths, 3,177 Sq Ft

5 Beds, 3.2 Baths, 3,200 Sq Ft

3 Beds, 2.1 Baths, 2,130 Sq Ft

Rochester Hills - $219,500

Rochester Hills - $384,500

Orion Township - $374,900

3 Beds, 2.1 Baths, 1,877 Sq Ft

4 Beds, 2.1 Baths, 2,863 Sq Ft

4 Beds, 2.1 Baths, 2,972 Sq Ft

PROVEN.

Servicing the Communities of Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township

Our Award winning offices and the outstanding personal service offered by our professional sales associates guide you through the maze of infinite details surrounding the purchase or sale of your home.

SMARTER. Whether you are relocating to Michigan from another state or country, moving across town, upgrading or downsizing, CENTURY 21 Town & Countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Relocation Services Division can make it a smooth, hassle-free experience.

BUILDING A NATION OF NEIGHBORS

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

CHARITABLE.

CENTURY21TOWN-COUNTRY.COM 248.652.8000 1460 Walton Blvd., STE 110 Rochester Hills 48309

CENTURY 21 Town & Country has raised over $15 million for Easter Seals and is the number one fundraiser for Easter Seals in the CENTURY 21 system.

26 Artificial playing fields Most local school districts have moved to artificial turf for athletic playing fields, but questions are now being raised about the impact on athletes' health.

45 Challenging local taxes Municipalities lose considerable tax dollars when large retail outlets and other taxable entities take tax disputes to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

24

Adam Hightower

BUSINESS MATTERS

67

Applied & Integrated Manufacturing; Lapels Dry Cleaning; Mie Salon; Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce; Huntington Learning Center; Three Dog Bakery.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

68

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

ENDNOTE

74

Our opinion on the pass-the-buck attitude of federal and state officials when it comes to the possible possible health hazards with artificial turf playing fields, and our take on changes to the state sex registry.

FACES

16 24 33 55 64

Gina and Mike Spehn Adam Hightower Greg Kampe Karen Buscemi Eric Gorges

Decades of Trusted Rehabilitation Services & Skilled Nursing Care!

“My therapy gave me the confidence to know that I would be independent when I returned home.

When I was there I never felt lonely or isolated, but comfortable and well cared for.” -Lillian Fox

Get Back Home...To What Really Matters!™ Outstanding Quality Rated Facilities by CMS!!

3500 W. South Blvd.

Rochester Hills, MI 48309 To Enjoy a Tour, Please Call: (248) 852-7800 www.BoulevardSubAcute.com

Michigan’s Newest Dealer for: Life Fit ness on disp lay at Birming ham locatio n

Gifts for the Whole Family! ➢Free Holiday Delivery ➢Kids Bike Trade In Program ➢Fat Bike Headquarters!

➢Get Your Kids Outside! ➢Spinning Shoes In Stock ➢Fat Bike Rentals and Demos

Birmingham

Rochester

248-645-2453

248-299-0456

33600 Woodward (at 14.5 mile)

downtownpublications.com

KLMFitness.com

2680 Rochester Road (1.5 mile N of M-59)

DOWNTOWN

7

DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER • ROCHESTER HILLS PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Katie Deska | Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf J. March | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Rochester, Rochester Hills and parts of Oakland Township. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual charge. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order online or scan the QR Code here.

INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Rochester/Rochester Hills communities. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Downtown are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication.

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

If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes.

WEBSITE downtownpublications.com

FACEBOOK facebook.com/downtownpublications TWITTER twitter.com/downtownpubs

Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS WESTEND

COREY & CREW Full Service Real Estate

METROPOLITAN

248-601-3399 direct: 248-601-1000 office:

Fall in Love with Rochester â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Great Place to Live! e

om

ed

H

r

tu a e

F

oakland twp. $729,900 Custom Moceri-built in Kings Pointe. Beautiful trim and detailing throughout. Library with judges paneling and two temperature controlled wine fridges.

Fam. rm. with floor-to-ceiling windows and two-way fireplace to spacious kitchen. Master suite with two-way fireplace to bonus rm. with wet bar.

Fin. daylight basement. Custom window treatments, private treed yard and so much more! Awesome curb appeal!

oakland twp. $429,900

rochester Hills $379,900

downtown rochester $299,900

Grand curb appeal and welcoming presence with circular driveway and 3 car garage. Located on a ž acre private setting in Oakland Farms development. Updated kitchen with cherry cabinetry, granite countertops and hardwood flooring. Library with crown molding and built-ins. Spacious bdrms., newer flooring and 5 bay windows.

Fin. bsmt. with bath and extensive recreational space. New maintenance-free Trex decking and court location.

Former model home with exceptional quality features. Two fireplaces (great rm. and master bdrm.). Wet bar between great rm. and library. Great rm. trimmed in wainscoting. Spacious and updated kitchen with granite countertops, island and double ovens. Finished basement, neutral dĂŠcor and pristine condition. Great location for accessibility to freeways, schools and shopping.

Perfect opportunity to live in downtown Rochester near parks, schools and shopping. This home has so much usable space to make an awesome home in a very desirable neighborhood. Prior renovation created hard-to-find spacious and open kitchen, dining, great room with gas fireplace and two entries to yard.

Well known downtown builder has excellent plans for expansion renovation opportunities.

rochester Hills $219,900Â

rochester Hills $309,900

rochester Hills $399,900

Updated ranch with beautiful setting backing to commons and park. Updated kit. and bath with granite. Pottery barn dÊcor.

Charming great room with fireplace. Lots of crown molding, custom trim and recessed lighting. Master suite with walk-in closet and organizers. New roof. Fin. bsmt. with recreation and full bath. Move-in condition. Close to downtown Rochester and all conveniences.

4 bdrm., 2.5 bath colonial on half-acre private setting in prime Rochester Hills location near schools, freeways and all conveniences. Fin. walkout basement. Spacious deck. First floor laundry and library. Hardwood flooring throughout entire home. Neutral dÊcor, quality construction and pride of ownership.

Located in desirable Grosse Pines on court location with private wooded setting. Spacious and updated kitchen leads to three season sun porch. Pub with wet bar overlooks family room. Updated baths. Finished basement. Beautiful curb appeal with stamped concrete walkways and pillared front porch. One of the largest lots in the development.

tour our Homes at: CoreyandCrew.com â&#x20AC;˘ email: debbie@CoreyandCrew.com

)8// 5($/ (67$7( 6(59,&(6 81'(5 21( 522) 0$5.(7,1* 6$/(6 0257*$*(6 7,7/( /$67,1* &/,(17 5(/$7,216+,36

FROM THE PUBLISHER

olitical columnist, author, presidential speechwriter (Nixon administration) and journalist William Safire (1929-2009) defines a political power play as “the art of running roughshod over the opposition” in his Political Dictionary, an indispensable gift I received from another political junkie back in 1979.

P

We got a good peek at such a play in recent weeks when the Republican-controlled Michigan Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation on its way to the Michigan House that would eliminate straight-ticket or straight-party voting in general elections in the state.

Yes, I know we already voted on this very issue in 2002, following a petition drive to place straightticket voting on the ballot after state lawmakers eliminated through legislation the practice of straight-party voting in 2001. In fact, 60 percent of state voters opted to overturn the election law.

In Oakland, 62 percent of those casting ballots voted to override what lawmakers tried to put in practice.

On the most recent push in the Michigan Senate, a number of organizations – the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks, the Michigan Township Association and the NAACP – spoke out against the elimination of straightparty voting, citing valid concerns of the added time it will take to vote, which if you still go to your assigned voting place, could translate into longer lines.

But no matter. As I have said more than once in this space, the party in power – whether Republican or Democrat – will always seek out ways to consolidate power as a matter of self preservation. In this state, it happens to be the GOP. Michigan is one of only 10 states still allowing straight-ticket voting.

Legislatures across the country, both Democrat and Republican, have chosen to scrap straight-party voting, usually under the guise of forcing the electorate to make more “informed decisions” as part of their civic duty, rather than just choosing a party affiliation button at the top of the ballot.

In reality, one of the major motivating factors in Michigan is the concern in presidential election years that a strong Democratic contender for president at the top of the ticket could impact races further down the ballot. And the numbers show that Democratic straight-ticket voters usually turn out slightly heavier than GOP straight-party voters in presidential election years. In 2014, for example, an off-year (non-presidential) election, 49.09 percent of straightparty votes in Oakland went Republican, while 49.78 percent were Democrats. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama carried Oakland County by 53.4 percent of votes cast. Among straight-party ballots cast, 45.27 percent went Republican and 53.42 percent were cast by Democrats. Since 1996 when Bill Clinton carried Oakland County, Democratic presidential candidates have been gaining strength at the ballot box, a major concern no doubt to the GOP which controls both the House and Senate, and to the powers-that-be in the full-time posts in Oakland County government.

The Republican-led Senate, however, went one step further this time around.

To make this latest election change immune to a ballot box petition drive, they attached a $1 million appropriation to the bill as it passed, without going through the normal appropriation process. In Michigan, appropriations are not subject to petition referendum. The definition – pure arrogance.

The vote in the Senate was along party lines, with the exception of two Republicans who sided with Democrats on this issue. And, for the record, the bill was sponsored by Senator Marty Knollenberg, (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy), not someone with whom I am impressed and I am told others share this view in Lansing.

While the Senate was fine tuning election law to benefit the GOP, they also made a major change that impacts the future of the Oakland County Executive's office, even though political insiders months ago dismissed as unlikely any movement on a senate bill that has now been sent to the House, which will move the election of the county executive in Oakland to non-presidential years.

Assuming House members approve this, when you vote on the county executive position in the 2016 balloting, the term will only be for two years.

Henceforth, we will elect the county executive to four-year terms in off-year elections, when Wayne and Macomb counties also cast ballots for their county executives.

While I would like to believe the reasoning put forth publicly by Oakland officials that the move makes sense and puts us in line with neighboring counties, I also know that GOP officials here are nervous about the growing strength of Democrats in county-wide offices, so moving to a non-presidential year on county executive increases the odds that Republicans can still hold the executive office in the county.

The immediate concern is not that incumbent Brooks Patterson cannot withstand the increasing power of Democrats at the polling places. After all, Patterson carried the Oakland County 2012 vote by 56.71 percent, with little to no campaign effort at all following a car accident that laid him up well past the election.

The most pressing issue is what happens when Brooks Patterson decides not to run again. So if he can be re-elected for a shortened two-year term next year, he could either step aside and hope a Republican can get appointed or will at least stand a better chance of being elected in 2018 in an off-year election.

The political rumor mill has it that there are four potential contenders Patterson would support, including Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett who just won a stunning write-in campaign for a third term in that city.

Backing by Patterson could keep the executive's office in the hands of the GOP, which Safire's Political Dictionary would say is an illustration of “clout.”

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

Family Owned & Operated Serving the Rochester Area & Surrounding Communities for Over 25 Years

ROCHESTER ATHLETIC CLUB

We Have Onsite Interior Designers

COMING IN JANUARY, 2016 BE PART OF THE

ROCHESTER REVOLUTION @ RAC NEW ROOM - 50 CLASSES PER WEEK

Includes: Real Ryder cycling, Barre, TRX Body Blast, Zumba and Zumba toning, Yoga, Total Body Sculpt and Tabata, Ultimate Interval Mix, Low Impact and more. WOW, the areas best and most affordable group training.

STOP IN OR CALL 248-650-6200 OR VISIT ROCHESTERATHLETICCLUB.NET 637 N. MAIN, ROCHESTER, MI, 48307 downtownpublications.com

248-693-9457 616 S. Lapeer Road, Lake Orion

We Carry and Install Wool Carpeting

www.nflooring.com

Before You Visit, See What Our Customers Say About Us Online Visit Our Beautiful Designer Showroom To See Our Amazing Selection Of Hardwood And Carpeting HOURS: MON 10:00AM - 6:00PM, TUE 10:00AM - 7:00PM, WED 10:00AM - 6:00PM, THU 10:00AM - 7:00PM, FRI 10:00AM - 5:00PM, SAT 9:00AM - 4:00PM, SUN CLOSED

Hardwood | Carpet | Wool | Laminate | Luxury Vinyl

Free Financing* We Even Pay Your Sales Tax! *Financing based on credit approval. Minimum $600 purchase with 30% deposit required. Prior orders exempt. Free installation offer good with carpet and pad purchase / cannot be combined with other sale prices or offers. See store for details.

DOWNTOWN

11

I am devoted to creating both beautiful and functional spaces, by guiding my client through an easy and convenient design process, all in the comfort of your own home. Whether it’s a full room makeover or a few simple items to complete your makeover or a few simple items to complete your vision, I have the resources and expertise to make your dreams come true.

Call Today for your Complimentary Consultation

Leen Zabalawi Interior Designer / Owner

313•686•7290 leendesigns@decoratingden.com LeenDesigns.DecoratingDen.com

VACANT LOT & CONSTRUCTION FINANCING OPTIONS

Ted Edginton ted.edginton@usbank.com 248-866-9460

Mark Webberly mark.webberly@usbank.com 248-882-2535

NMLS #502442

NMLS #139326

usbank.com 12

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC. DOWNTOWN

12.15

INCOMING

BEST GIFT EVER

More engagement needed Just read the commentary (From The Publisher) in the November 2015 edition.

More perspective and community involvement/engagement is what we need.

Well done.

R. Borowski Rochester

Glyphosate article Thank you for your article on glyphosate in the November issue.

This has concerned many of us in alternative health venues for many years and I am glad to see you put it under the public's nose.

Since you didn't allude to it, I will assume that you have not seen The World According To Monsanto on YouTube. Please watch it as it is a definitive resource on both Monsanto and glyphosate. Pretty much everyone who sees it ends up crying, so bring a hanky.

As Michigan residents and journalists, the question you need to ask yourself about any research is: who paid for it and who did it?

Studies done by Monsatan can hardly be referenced as accurate as they would never report any negative info when they stand to lose so much. To insure they get what they want, they donated $2 million dollars to Obama's re-election campaign.

As guardians of the Great Lakes, we have to err on the side of caution rather than to let the EPA wait 10 years to do anything about anything. Everything we use on the land eventually runs into the Great Lakes. With the world running out of fresh water, it's our most valuable resource, worth more than oil.

Certainly glyphosate should be banned as there is no way to remove it from the water supply, except by distillation, and it has a "half-life" of 2000 years. We need to get serious about this. Michigan should be the paragon of natural farming, with few–if any– chemical pesticides and fertilizers. All the well water from Oakland County into the thumb is already poisoned by a natural vein of arsenic, and GM sites are not closed down by them because, as at the Pontiac plant, there are seven basements full of toxic, leaking chemicals unbeknownst to the downtownpublications.com

O

SPEAK OUT

*

We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Rochester/Rochester Hills communities.

Offers Expire 12/24/15

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

public. We don't need any more poisons, especially when we know that they are poison.

Monsatan keeps telling everyone that their GMOs actually produce greater yields than natural, traditional methods when in fact, they produce less. GMO plants do not reseed themselves making it imperative that poor farmers buy more seed for each planting, and glyphosate is producing super bugs and glyphosate resistant weeds – that nothing can kill.

Keep up the good work. We deserve food as clean as Europe's – without hormones, antibiotics or pesticides.

Joe Bonfiglio Bloomfield Township

*Restrictions and limits apply

DDA funding I read your article on DDA funding (November/Downtown) and found it very informative and well written.

This morning I picked up the Free Press and read where "Wayne County sues to halt tax siphoning.” You had all the details on this issue in your article.

You guys are really on top of things.

Bill Person Bloomfield Village

Clarification of story

Lake Orion 556 N. Lapeer Rd. 248.693.0820

An article about Downtown Development Authority (DDA) funding published in the November issue of Downtown should have clarified that DDAs utilizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts have not collected /captured local school tax funds since 1994.

DOWNTOWN

Rochester Hills 1276 Walton Blvd. 248.841.8996 Shelby Twp 13851 Hall Rd. 586.737.0312 Washington 7727 26 Mile Rd. 586.677.1566

13

Rochester Hills Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep is proud to serve the Rochester area and surrounding communities.

We provide sales, service, and parts for all Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles.

NEW CAR SALES HOURS: Mon. & Thurs. 8:30-9:00; Tues., Wed. & Fri. 8:30-6:00; Sat. 10-3

HUGE SELECTION OF PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

SERVICE HOURS: Mon. & Thurs. 7-7:30; Tues.,Wed. & Fri. 7-5:30; Sat. 8:30-3

BODY SHOP HOURS: Mon. & Thurs. 7-7:30; Tues.,Wed. & Fri. 7-5:30

888-435-3039 • 1301 S. Rochester Road Visit us online: www.chryslerdeals4u.net or www.jeepdeals4u.net

Building Strength Through NETWORKING

Join by December 31st, 2015, and your

1st Month is FREE!

Call: (586) 232-3009 (You must mention this ad.)

325+ Members Business DEVELOPMENT through relationship building since 2002!

Breakfast Meetings Evening Mixers Golf Ɣ Bocce Ball Bowling Ɣ Euchre Sporting Events Ladies Events and more!

www.sunriseNETWORKINGgroup.com IDFHERRN FRP 6XQULVH1HWZRUNLQJ//& Ɣ \RXWXEH FRP 6XQULVH1HWZRUNLQJ

14

DOWNTOWN

12.15

CRIME LOCATOR

Map key

NORTH

Sexual assault

Robbery

Larceny from vehicle

Drug offenses

Assault

Breaking/entering

Vehicle theft

Arson

Murder

Larceny

Vandalism

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Rochester and Rochester Hills through November 20, 2015.

Placement of codes is approximate.

FACES

Gina and Michael Spehn ew Day grew out of (Gina) losing Matt, and me losing my wife, (Cathy),” said Michael Spehn, who married Gina Kell Spehn in 2007, after each were widowed when their respective spouses lost their battles with cancer, six weeks apart.

Gina and Michael were inspired to launch New Day Foundation for Families when a golf tournament in honor of Matt Kell, hosted by his friends, raised over $55,000. “It was a calling borne out of the kindness of others,” said Michael.

Based in Rochester, New Day is a non-profit dedicated to helping families deal with the financial toxicity of cancer. “The families we serve are in real need because cancer comes with costs that are beyond the physical,” said Gina. New Day provides hope and support for families battling any form of cancer. “As a family who’s been affected by rare forms, we recognize that cancer is cancer – it doesn’t discriminate. And neither do we.”

From gift cards for groceries, to funds for pay-to-play sports, to assisting with mortgage payments, New Day collaborates with hospital social workers to efficiently provide needed resources.

Currently partnered with twenty hospitals, including McLaren, Henry Ford and Beaumont, New Day helped 100 families in 2015, more than twice as many as in 2014. The foundation is built on six core values, including “that people should not have to choose between caring for their family or getting treatment,” Gina said.

Michael and Gina met in 2006, six weeks after Gina lost Matt to leiomyosarcoma. She attended the funeral for Michael’s wife, Cathy, which took place less than a month after Cathy was diagnosed with brain cancer. Matt and Cathy were childhood friends who grew up in Rochester Hills, where Michael and Gina currently live.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, Michael and Gina had each become single parents –Michael to one girl and two boys, and Gina to two boys. “I was a widower with three children under the age of nine,” said Michael. “Without support and community I would have been completely lost, and that’s a big part of what led us to create New Day.” “My children were the first to receive Gina’s kindness,” he said.

“Our families got together for pizza. We wanted (the kids) to know they weren’t alone. There was an instant chemistry between them.” Today, Charlotte is 19, Jack is 17, Drew is 16, and Sam and Dan are 14.

This fall, after experiencing double vision, Sam was diagnosed with Stage IV giant cell Glioblastoma Multiforme, brain cancer.

“There’s a prayer vigil, a hockey game, events taking place to honor my son’s cancer battle,” said Gina. “We want people to remember that there are thousands of others who are battling this, too. It’s important to keep the message out there, that the need is great.”

“The Color of Rain,” co-authored by Michael and Gina and published in 2011, was borne of their desire “to write down what was on our hearts, for the sake of our kids.” said Michael. “Our faith was in evidence on the pages. We realized this could be something of a narrative that could serve others. There’s a lot of tears, but a lot of laughter and hope.” In 2014, a screen adaptation of their story topped the charts on the Hallmark Movie Channel.

N

Story: Katie Deska

Photo: Laurie Tennent

“Better Agents” Locally Owned and Operated

248-652-7000 Ask for:

Servicing Oakland & Macomb Counties

David Elya Broker Owner

623 N. Main Street • Downtown Rochester

ROCHESTER HILLS $320,000

ROYAL OAK DUPLEX $244,800

Owner has found a new home!

Great investment!

Prime "Eddington Farms" location, Award winning Rochester Schools!

Updated colonial features: Park like setting on corner lot, updated landscape, new patio. Move in ready with fresh paint, new carpet, granite kitchen with hardwood floors & stainless steel appliances. Family room has fireplace, First floor laundry has slate floor, new cabinets and LG washer & dryer.

Finished basement Act Fast!

Walk to downtown. Own both sides of this Royal Oak duplex, or buy one unit for $129,900 the other for $119,900. Over 1800 sq. ft. Each unit features 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen, living room and a basement. One unit has an attached 2 car garage, fenced yard. Come & see today!

ROCHESTER HILLS $325,000

MACOMB TOWNSHIP $219,900

Pottery barn perfect!

Built in 2003

Remodeled brick 2220 sq. ft. ranch with a huge fenced in yard. Relax next summer in the in-ground pool. This home is warm and inviting with reclaimed barn wood and natural stone accents. Large granite kitchen with island, stainless steel appliances. Big bedrooms with hardwood floors. Don’t miss out!

This beautiful colonial features 4 bedrooms, 1800 sq. ft., and 2.5 bathrooms.

Nice partially finished basement with tons of storage and another family room or office area. All appliances are included. Close to shopping, schools, parks, and easy access to freeways. Make Macomb your home.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP $449,000

OXFORD TOWNSHIP $464,000

Nearly 25 acres

Custom all sports lake waterfront home

Come experience the nearly 25 acres of privacy and wildlife in the beautiful community of Oxford with Lake Orion Schools. This peaceful private retreat is just minutes from shopping, restaurants, and transportation. The home features 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, walkout basement, and attached garage overlooking a large pond and acres of woods.

Spectacular lake views from every window. Bright, open floor plan! Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac with almost 1/2 an acre. Room for an in-ground pool, volleyball, campfires and more. Love to entertain? Easily host a large event with over 4,000 sq. ft. of interior living space, a wrap-around deck and expansive yard with mature landscaping. Call us today!

DELIVERING GREAT FULL-TIME REAL ESTATE SERVICE FOR 25 YEARS!

THIS SPACE RESERVED FOR YOUR HOUSE CALL US TODAY

www.BrookviewRealty.com

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

SEX

OFFENDER

EMPOWERING OR PROBLEMATIC: EXAMINING MICHIGAN'S REGISTRY

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

I

If knowledge is power, then it would seem that knowing the names, addresses and other identifying information of some 38,521 state-registered sex offenders in Michigan, including more than 1,800 in Oakland County, would help give the public the ability to keep themselves and their children safe.

"Certainly it takes resources, but when given a list of convicted sex offenders, it's a great resource for people to know where they are living," said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard who helped draft Michigan's initial Sex Offender Registry Act established in 1994, as a state senator.

Since the law drafted by Bouchard was enacted, the state's sex offender registry has undergone several changes beyond who has access to the database. Based on their offense, offenders must register for 15 years, 25 years or for life. Registrants must provide physical addresses and phone numbers of where they live and work, the vehicles they drive and Internet identifiers, such as e-mail addresses or online identities. Those required to register are also prohibited from living, working or loitering within a "school safety zone," or within 1,000 feet of a school, and must adhere to a list of other requirements.

"I knew when we wrote it there would be constant monitoring of the system to make it more effective and productive for the public because information is power," Bouchard said. "If you have a convicted pedophile on your block, the public has a right to know that, the same way they should know if there's a toxic waste dump at a playground."

Bouchard said the registry empowers the public, and has even helped law enforcement agencies locate missing children. However, a growing number of scholarly researchers, attorneys and public officials, as well as a federal court ruling earlier this year, are spurring changes to the state's registry.

Critics of Michigan's sex offender registry law say it gives the public a false sense of safety; forces people to register who logically shouldn't be required; does little to reduce rates of re-offense, or recidivism; and puts the general public in more danger. Further, a federal court in March of this year found that some parts of the law are unconstitutional, and are so complicated that it is impossible for some offenders to comply.

"We have the fourth largest registry in the country, and that is because we have a lot of people that don't belong there," said Miriam Aukerman, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

Aukerman cited an example of one man on the registry who has two children with his victim, whom he has since married. However, she said the couple was unable to live together because of the residency restriction placed on Michigan's registered sex offenders.

"One individual (victim) is married to the individual," Aukerman said. "She testified that she wasn't so much a victim of him, but a victim of the registry.

She snuck into an adults-only club and had sex. They had a child, and now they are unable to live together because of the exclusion zones."

The couple's situation was one of six people represented by Aukerman on behalf of the ACLU in a federal lawsuit filed in 2012 that challenged Michigan's Sex Offenders Registration Act in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division.

Aukerman said the husband, identified in court documents as "John Doe #4," was 23-years-old in the summer of 2005 when he met the victim at an adults-only nightclub. The girl, then 15-years-old, had used a fake ID to enter the club. The couple met and had sex. It wasn't until the girl became

pregnant and he was arrested that he learned of her actual age.

In 2006, the man pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sexual conduct.

Under the terms of that plea agreement, the case was to be dismissed if the baby's DNA didn't match his, as it was revealed that she had had other sexual partners, and it was unclear with whom she had become pregnant.

When it turned out that Mr. Doe #4 had fathered the child, the case went forward. He served five years probation, and completed sex offender counseling. At the time of his conviction, he was required to register on the state's sex offender registry for 25 years. A change in the law in 2011 retroactively re-classified him as a Tier III offender, requiring him to register for the rest of his life. Today, "Doe #4" and the victim are married and have two children together.

Under the state's sex offender registry laws, the father can't live or work within 1,000 feet of a school. The lawsuit states that because a school is at the end of the family's street, the father can't legally live at the home with his wife and children.

"When people think about the registry, they don't conceptualize that," Aukerman said. "They don't conceptualize a dad who is married to the mother of his children. This is a family that can't be together because of the registry."

Looking to the original version of the state's sex offender registry act, Bouchard said he anticipated the law would need to be looked at in the future.

"I expected after I wrote the original act that it would take a constant process to stay on top of it," Bouchard said. "When originally written, it was just available to local police departments. As technology evolved, it made that information more accessible."

In its original form, the act established a database that contains the names, addresses and listed offense information of all people in Michigan convicted of certain sexual offenses. The complete database was, and still remains, only accessible to law enforcement officials.

Michigan's registry was created in response to the passage of the federal Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act of 1994. That act required states to implement sex offender and crimes against children registries. Under the original federal law, all states must verify the addresses of sex offenders annually for at least 10 years, and those classified as a "sexually violent predator" must register for life. The law allowed states the discretion to share registration information with the public, but wasn't required.

M

Michigan's original law set registration requirements of 25 years, and a lifetime registration for second or subsequent offenses.

Information in the database, at the time, was only available to law enforcement and was exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests. In 1996, the names on the registry were made

available to the public via local law enforcement agencies.

The public sex offender registry (www.mipsor.state.mi.us) was made available on the Internet in 1999, when at the same time, offenses requiring registration were expanded. In 2002, the law was changed to require registrants to provide information to local law enforcement if they were working, volunteering or attending an institution of higher learning.

Several changes to the the state's registry law were made in 2004 and 2005, including the requirement of photographs of each registrant, as well as the creation of "student safety zones," which prohibits convicted offenders

from working or loitering or living within 1,000 feet or less from school property.

In 2011, the state's registry law was again updated to conform with requirements of the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. Changes that year also allowed for some offenders to be removed from the registry, including the exclusion of some so-called Romeo and Juliet and juvenile offenders, or those having consensual sex with partners between the ages of 13 and 16, provided the offender wasn't more than four years older than the victim. However, it is still illegal for anyone under 16 to have sex in Michigan.

T

The 2011 changes also implemented a threetier offender system, where offenders are classified into tiers based on the severity of their offense, and required to register for 15 years, 25 years, or for life. Prison and jail time aren't included when calculating the end registration date. The changes were tied to federal mandates

requiring states to make the changes or risk losing federal funds for law enforcement.

After registering, offenders must report to the law enforcement agency where they live to verify their address. Tier I offenders must verify once a year; Tier II offenders verify twice a year; and Tier III offenders register three times per year.

According to the Michigan State Police, individuals can be found out of compliance if they: fail to register; fail to change their address when they move; fail to verify their address; fail to provide or update campus information; fail to update vehicle information; fail to provide or update employment information; fail to provide a name change; fail to report e-mail addresses or Internet identifiers; fail to maintain a valid Michigan driver's license or personal identification card; reside, work or loiter within 1,000 feet of a school.

Those who don't follow the rules of the registry can face anywhere from a misdemeanor to a 10-year felony. For instance, the penalty for failing to verify an address is a misdemeanor, as is failure to pay for the registration fee, sign a registration card, registration notification, or verification form.

All other violations carry a graduated penalty, ranging from a four-year felony to a 10-year felony.

The state sex offender registry law allows an arrest warrant to be authorized by a prosecutor for a non-compliant offender. After a warrant is entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN), the offender can be apprehended during a traffic stop or any other contact with law enforcement. In addition, law enforcement agencies may conduct periodic offender sweeps, during which offenders' addresses are confirmed, and noncomplaint offenders are actively sought.

Enforcing the rules and checking up on registrants can take resources from law enforcement agencies, some of which conduct community checks to see whether offenders are providing accurate information. However, those checks aren't required under the law.

Bouchard said sheriff's substations in the county do check on offenders that may be non-complaint when addresses are in question.

"It's not required for agencies to go out and physically check â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that would be unconstitutional under the Headlee Amendment," Bouchard said.

"But we suggested it."

Statewide, there are about 30,877 offenders that must verify their address

either yearly, semi-annually or quarterly, while some 11,123 incarcerated offenders don't have to verify their information. According to the Michigan State Police, 28,372 offenders were in compliance, while 2,507 offenders failed to comply, following the state's September 2015 verification period.

The Michigan State Police Department's Public Sex Offender Registry is constantly being updated by the department's Sex Offender Registry Unit, which receives updated offender information from local law enforcement agencies electronically, by fax and by mail. Department spokeswoman Tiffany Brown said the public registry is updated in real time as the new information is added.

"Generally, the unit updates the registry within five business days after receiving a record change," she said. "The information received by the unit typically includes court orders for removals or tier changes."

Law enforcement agencies also rely on the public to help identify noncompliant offenders as well. Such was the case with a 29-year-old offender allegedly working within the 1,000 foot restriction of a school in September.

Walled Lake police said an off-duty officer was bowling at Langan's All Star Lanes, 257 Ladd Road, on September 27, 2015, when he was informed an employee at the bowling alley was a registered offender in the city, and was non-compliant by working at the location. Police confirmed the complaint on October 1 when the man registered a different work address, and the detective caught the mismatched information. The case was forwarded to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.

On March 31, 2015, U.S. District Court Robert Cleland issued a ruling on the case filed in 2012 by the ACLU, John Does #1-5 and Mary Doe v.

Governor Richard Snyder and Col. Kristie Etue of the Michigan State Police Department. In his ruling, Cleland held that ambiguity in the act, combined with the number of and length of the act's provisions, make it difficult for a well-intentioned registrant to understand all of his or her obligations.

"SORA (Sex Offender Registry Act) was not enacted as a trap for individuals who have committed sex offenses in the past (and who have already served their sentences)," he stated in his ruling. "Rather, the goal is public safety, and the public safety would only be enhanced by the government ensuring registrants are aware of their obligations."

S

Specifically, the court found that the act's geographic exclusion zones are unconstitutional because registrants have no way to know where these zones are, and even law enforcement doesn't know where these zones are. The court also found the prohibition on "loitering" within those

zones is unconstitutional because an ordinary registrant can't know whether his or her conduct is "loitering." Further, the court found that registrants can't be penalized unless they knowingly violate the registry law; and that because the registry law's Internet reporting requirements are vague and because the registrants must report changes in person, the majority of those requirements violate the First Amendment's protection for free speech.

The federal court also found that certain reporting requirements pertaining to vehicles, phones or other items "regularly" or "routinely used" are unconstitutional, as neither registrants or law enforcement know exactly how often the item must be used to be reportable.

While the court questioned whether geographic exclusion zones and "loitering" bans also violate the parental rights of registrants who have

YOUR COMMUNITY: WHERE DO THE OFFENDERS LIVE? The Michigan State Police Department maintains the state's public Sex Offender Registration (SOR) database, which contains the names, addresses and listed offense information of all persons in Michigan convicted of sexual offenses. The complete SOR is available for law enforcement purposes only, while the public database is available to the public to search at www.mipsor.state.mi.us.

As of November 1, 2015, there were about 42,000 active sex offenders in the database, including 11,123 offenders who are incarcerated. About 38,521 offenders appear on the Public Sex Offender Registry, including 1,815 offenders in Oakland County.

children, it held off on deciding the question because the statute is so vague the court couldn't determine its impact.

"We actually had volunteers call police departments and prosecutors to get information, and all of them were different," the ACLUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aukerman said. "If the people enforcing the law don't know what the law means and give different information to different people, how can you expect the folks registering to understand this incredibly complicated law?"

Bloomfield Hills defense attorney Shannon Smith, who specializes in criminal sexual offense cases, said some portions of the state's sex offender registry law are so confusing that they can't consistently be answered.

"One of the major issues with the law is that it is very vague and unclear," she said. "We have calls to my office that we literally can't answer. The law is inconsistently applied. One answer that works in one county may not work in another. It makes it a mess.

"Sometimes I call the Michigan State Police, and they say that they don't know what the answer is. The problem is that the law is very unclear, it's difficult to read, and it doesn't take into account every circumstance."

Even in some instances where registrants have taken measures to ensure they are following the law, they receive conflicting information from law enforcement agencies. A federal court case recently filed on behalf of a Grand Rapids man claims that a registrant checked with police there whether he could move into a specific address and was told he could, only to be told when registering the address that he would have to move within 30 days.

Aukerman said the federal ruling means that Doe #4 will still be required to register on the state sex offender registry, but that he isn't subject to the geographic exclusion zones. The ruling also clarifies and provides relief to other plaintiffs in the case, however, the ruling doesn't have immediate effect for all offenders on the state's registry.

"The ruling is limited specifically to that case. It has no binding effect on the state, but it's a persuasive argument," said Paul Walton, chief assistant prosecutor for Oakland County.

The following is a list of the number of registered offenders on the public registry in Oakland County by community: Addison Township: 4 Auburn Hills: 36 Berkley: 20 Beverly Hills: 2 Bingham Farms: 0 Birmingham: 4 Bloomfield Hills: 13 Bloomfield Township: 5 Brandon: 0 Clarkston: 48 Clawson: 17 Commerce: 13 Farmington Hills: 67 Farmington: 7 Fenton: 42 Ferndale: 48 Franklin Village: 0 Groveland Township: 0 Hazel Park: 75 Highland: 35 Holly (Township & Village): 43 Huntington Woods: 1 Independence Township: 0 Keego Harbor: 6 Lake Angelus: 0 Lake Orion: 40 Lathrup Village: 2 Leonard Village: 6

Lyon Township: 0 Madison Heights: 35 Milford (Township & Village): 18 Northville: 12 Novi: 25 Oak Park: 50 Oakland Township: 1 Orchard Lake: 0 Orion Township: 5 Ortonville: 8 Oxford (Township & Village): 31 Pleasant Ridge: 1 Pontiac: 566 Rochester Hills: 52 Rochester: 10 Rose Township: 0 Royal Oak: 55 Royal Oak Township: 0 South Lyon: 18 Southfield: 118 Sylvan Lake: 1 Troy: 42 Walled Lake: 11 Waterford: 159 West Bloomfield: 27 White Lake: 42 Wixom: 11 Wolverine Lake: 6

*Source: Michigan State Police Department

W

While Walton said the case doesn't relieve all offenders of their duties under the law, it does provide a persuasive defense for some defendants.

Ultimately, he said, prosecutors and state courts are bound by the state's law.

"I know both sides of the argument, and there is a lot of pressure to look at the

sex offender registry," he said. "Some of the provisions become difficult to enforce. What is 1,000 feet of a school? Where does that start? How is it marked? There are pragmatic issues there."

While the court ruling suggests the state must take action to address some issues with the state's sex offender registry, relaxing some of the state's existing requirements could be viewed as a politically risky move where the public is less than sympathetic to the plight of sex offenders on a whole. Since the court ruling, only one bill has been introduced in the state legislature to address the federal court's findings.

"I think it's politically risky not to do anything. Right now, the offenders can go back to the school yards," said state Sen. Rick Jones (R-Eaton), who introduced Senate Bill 581, which would amend the state's Sex Offender Registry Act. "I was a law enforcement officer for 30 years, and I

have opinions of a sex offender. Whether they are a flasher or a pedophile, I don't think they belong around schools. We've had these laws for 30 years, and I think they are helpful, but a federal judge said it wasn't very clear."

T

The bill, which was introduced on October 27, 2015, would make five key changes to the state's sex offender registry law, including: revising the definition of "loitering," "student safety zone," and "school property"; revise the information that must be reported immediately and in person; revise the prohibition against a

sex offender registrant's loitering near a school; revise information that must be included n the law enforcement database of registrations and the publicly available website, which are maintained by the Michigan Department of State Police; and revise provisions dealing with a waiver of initial and annual registration fees for a registrant who is indigent.

"We had to redefine 'loitering,'" Jones said. "Also, because of the judge's ruling, we had to deal with sex offenders who are parents. If a sex offender is a parent, and they have a child in school, they can go to a parent teacher conference, drop them off and pick them up at school, or go to an event or something at the school."

Under the current act, "loiter" means to remain for a period of time and under circumstances that a reasonable person would determine is for the primary purpose of observing or contacting minors. Under the bill, "loiter" instead would mean to remain for a period of time, whether or not in a vehicle, with the intent to engage or solicit another person to engage in an act prohibited by a listed offense involving a minor for which registration is required under the act.

Also under the bill, a "school safety zone" would mean school property and the area that lies 1,000 feet or less from the property line of a school property.

The bill also further clarifies the definition of school property.

The bill would also eliminate immediate reporting and notification of e-mail or instant messaging addresses, or other Internet identifiers; or buying or beginning to regularly operate any vehicle, and discounting ownership or operation of the vehicle. However, such information would still be required to be reported.

"In my opinion, and those of the great legal minds that helped me, it brings us into compliance with the federal judge's wishes," Jones said.

While the bill addresses some of the issues brought up by the federal court, Aukerman with the ACLU said it doesn't address all of the issues with the geographic restrictions placed on registrants.

"It addresses a number of problems, but there are a lot still out there in terms of what the court said is unconstitutional, and the larger issue of who needs to be on the list," she said.

While court battles are fighting over specifics of the current state sex offender registry law, mounting research and legal experts are calling for a change in determining who should be on the list, and for how long.

According to results from several national and state studies, the recidivism rate of sex offenders is lower than criminals convicted of nonsexual related crimes. Further, research has shown that offender-based registries, such as Michigan's, which requires offenders to register based on specific offenses, have a negative effect on recidivism.

Dating back to 2003, a study conducted by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics found that about 5.3 percent of sex offenders released from prison in 1994 were rearrested for another sex crime within three years. The study

found that 43 percent of sex offenders were rearrested for any crime, while 68 percent of all offenders in the study were rearrested for any crime. However, sex offenders were about four times more likely than non-sex offenders to be arrested for a sex crime after their discharge from prison, or 5.3 percent of sex offenders versus 1.3 percent of non-sex offenders.

Of the almost 9,700 sex offenders released in 1994, nearly 4,300 were identified as child molesters. An estimated 3.3 percent of the child molesters were rearrested for another sex crime against a child within three years. In almost half of child victim cases, the child was the prisoner's own son or daughter or other relative.

Attorney Smith said the connection to the victim is one reason why the state's registry tends to provide a false sense of safety.

"It happens around Halloween. Everyone looks up all the sex offenders on their streets and says they won't go to those houses. They really need to be worried about family and others who spend a lot of time with their children," she said. "I've never had a case where I've defended someone who lost their mind on Halloween and went out and molested a kid. It's the family member, the day care worker or teacher."

J.J. Prescott, a law professor at the University of Michigan and nationally recognized expert on sex offender registry laws, said offense-based registries, such as the registry in Michigan that lists registrants based on their specific offense, don't take into account the actual risk of that individual reoffending.

"What we do know, I think, is that we passed these laws without any evidence to indicate that they work. And there are some good reasons to show that they do more harm than good."

In a report to the federal court in the John Doe case, Prescott stated that while the threat of becoming subjected to a notification regime – and the shame of collateral consequences that accompany being publicly identified as a sex criminal – had a measurable deterrent effect, i.e., reducing offenses by non-registrants. But, he said, "once we take into account the number of individuals subjected to public notification, we find that the more people a state subjects to notification, the higher the relative frequency of sex offenses in that state.

"These results are highly statistically significant. Our estimates indicate that it is very unlikely that these laws are reducing recidivism by registrants, and that it is likely that these laws are actually increasing recidivism."

In Michigan specifically, a 2013 study titled "An Evaluation of Sex Offender Residency Restrictions in Michigan and Missouri", stated that research hasn't substantiated a link between residency restrictions and reduced crime.

"Overall, the findings suggest that if residency restrictions have an effect on recidivism, the relationship is small," the study states. "In Michigan, trends indicate that this effect would lead to a slight increase in recidivism among the sex offender groups, while in Missouri this effect would lead to a slight decrease in recidivism."

In its summary, researchers cautioned the expansion of residency restriction legislation. "The findings suggest that residency restrictions are unlikely to mitigate or reduce the risk of recidivism among sex offenders."

Prescott said "risk-based registries take into account lots of additional details, such as the age of the offender and victim, the type of victim and other information.” Risk is then calculated based on evidence beyond the type of conviction, and only those at high risk or at least medium risk would be publicly registered. In other words, the actual statute violated only plays a role in the risk calculation, not the sole determining factor.

Under offense based registries, he said, some minor offenders who pose little realistic threat are likely to become more dangerous – either with respect to sex crimes or other crimes – because these individuals will be harassed, made pariahs, have great difficulty finding employment and housing and other problems.

"In other words, if you're not already destined to be a life-time criminal, being publicly listed as a sex offender is going to make you more likely to lead a life of crime, or at least make few or only negative contributions to society,” Prescott said.

"There is little doubt in my mind that there are a very small group of sex offenders who need to be very carefully regulated and monitored.

Probably identifying these people using a risk-based approach would make the most sense. If we focus our resources on these people, we can do a better job at reducing the threat."

FACES

Adam Hightower ccording to Chef Adam Hightower, “It all started when I cooked for my brother, who was my best friend and who appreciated his five-year-old brother cooking eggs for him.” Just a tot when his culinary training began, he recalled resting on the hip of his mother or grandmother, learning to shake up the perfect vinaigrette.

With about 15 countries under his belt in 15 years, Hightower, 38, has traveled the world while opening restaurants in Hong Kong, Thailand, England and various states in the U.S. “One of the things I appreciate most about Michigan, is how we keep it local,” said Hightower, who’s currently at the helm of Parkside: A Modern American Bistro in Auburn Hills. He said sourcing ingredients locally is common in Hawaii, where he was chef de tournant for the Hilton Hawaii Village, and re-opened a hotel on the island of Kauai.

Growing up in Rochester Hills, the son of a teacher and a biophysicist who traveled often for work, Hightower fell in love with food while tasting exotic dishes on international family trips. “We traveled the world as kids. I was in Japan and eating sushi and raw beef 20 years ago,” he said. “I was exposed to a lot of different cuisines at a young age.”

After Hightower was hired by Embers Deli (then in Rochester), at what he said was likely an illegal age, Hightower became a dishwasher at Max and Erma’s, and worked his way up to sauté cook by age 14.

Two years later, Hightower said, “my parents tricked me by saying they’d buy me a car if I went to culinary school, and I thought ‘Great!’” Before he graduated from Rochester Adams High School in ‘96, Hightower was enrolled in culinary courses at Schoolcraft College, where he earned a degree focused on culinary arts and hospitality management.

The role of a chef has changed over the years, he said. “You used to just design food and recipes, but now I’m designing my own kitchen, and have a large say about the front of the house. It has to all make sense, to revolve around the chef to be one. I manage people, create accounts, do finance, make a top-tobottom one-year plan. There’s a lot that goes into it.”

Of the 67 certified master chefs in the world, Hightower has worked under three of them, including at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida, the hotel’s flagship location. He also opened seven different restaurants at the American Club in Hong Kong, and has worked as a national trainer for P.F. Chang’s.

The grueling hours that accompany life as a chef doesn’t leave much opportunity for dining out, but a couple of restaurants Hightower noted include Roast and MotorCity’s Iridescence. “They hired a phenomenal chef,” Hightower said of the casino/hotel restaurant that he opened in 2008.

Although not keen on cooking for himself, when he does he keeps it simple and clean. “Usually I find an excuse to cook for someone I care about, and then I get really into it. One of my biggest passions is cooking for people I care about.”

Diane’s Pear Salad, named after Hightower’s mother, is one of his classics that appears on the menu at Parkside. “It’s the only salad I’d ever seen my dad eat. He doesn’t eat salads and veggies, but he eats anything I cook.”

A

Story: Katie Deska

Photo: David Lamarand

ARTIFICIAL TURF: The debate has all the signs of a classic case of passing the buck. elements in the crumb rubber turf playing fields, while our state agencies, and the excuses continue to mount. Meanwhile, staff was ordered closed due to health concerns and how a coach of a anecdotal evidence of an increase of cancer among goalkeepers

Old car and truck tires, pulverized and repurposed, create cushioning in artificial athletic fields nationwide, enabling schools to increase the number of practices and games played, yet the safety of crumb rubber – tiny black rubber particles, called “turf bugs” in the sports community – remains disputed as a purported cause of increased injuries to student athletes. There are also numerous parents, coaches, and physicians nationwide who cite an increase of serious illnesses, including cancer, in those athletes who have played on artificial crumb rubber turf. Yet studies remain ambiguous as more and more school districts add artificial turf to their high school playing fields.

INCREASED CONCERN The EPA says it is up to the states to determine the impact of toxic environment officials say such testing is the purview of the federal reporter KATIE DESKA notes how one playing field in New Jersey women's soccer team at the University of Washington found who competed on artificial turf.

Made of multiple layers, artificial turf systems require a base of drainage material such as stones, followed by a pad of rubber, commonly called the E-layer, topped off by a carpet of synthetic grass blades, which is filled in with crumb rubber, leaving about a half-inch of grass blades on the surface. Artificial turf “is made up, at least in part, of a lot of toxic substances,” said Nick Leonard of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center (GLELC), which is affiliated with Wayne State University. Citing a peer review study in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the GLELC reported, “the four metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium), that are commonly found in crumb rubber, have been described as systemic toxicants that are known to

induce severe adverse health effects, even at lower levels of exposure.”

The health risks from overexposure to the four metals, which are all listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Carcinogen List and Priority Chemical List, include, “cardiovascular disease, developmental abnormalities, neurologic and neurobehavioral disorders, diabetes, hearing loss, hematologic and immunologic disorders, and various types of cancer,” according to the GLELC. Under contract from CalRecycle, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), published a brief explanation of a planned study that will evaluate athlete exposure to chemicals released from crumb rubber and artificial turf blades, “in synthetic turf from indoor and outdoor fields throughout California,” it stated. A recent statement from Laura Allen, deputy press secretary for the Environmental Protection Agency, said, “EPA and other federal agencies are collaborating with California as they design and carry out their assessment” of crumb rubber.

surface than natural grass, and crumb rubber infill is used in over 98 percent of all synthetic turf fields worldwide, according to the Synthetic Turf Council (STC). In addition to other high schools throughout Michigan, almost all high schools in the Oakland Activities Association have ripped up grass fields in favor of installing artificial turf since the 1990s. The list includes all high schools in the districts of Birmingham, Bloomfield, Farmington, Rochester Community Schools, Southfield, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford, and West Bloomfield, as well as several metro Detroit area private schools including Cranbrook Kingswood, Detroit Country Day School, The Roeper School, and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Preparatory.

“We like that it’s very little maintenance and you can play a lot of games, endless amount of games, and not chew up the fields,” said Mike Cowdrey, athletic director for Bloomfield Hills Schools. “When it’s inclement weather, the (grass) fields get chewed up real quickly with cleats. It’s a huge concern, when running several practices a day on the surface, that we have it stay in good condition.”

The second advantage to using crumb rubber as an infill layer in fake turf is that it enables schools to increase athletic programming, without the risk of large divots or filthy mud pits that often characterize grass fields after a rough winter or an aggressive game played in inclement weather. In comparison to first generation turf, which didn’t have the rubber infill and was akin to playing on cement, the crumb rubber adds cushioning, Cowdrey said.

Touted as cheaper and more durable than grass fields, school staff in various local districts echoed each other in that the primary reason the switch was made from natural grass to synthetic turf is in order to maximize use of the field without losing quality, while also cutting down on weekly maintenance duties, which require the costs of equipment and hours of manpower. A number of Oakland County schools that Downtown Publications contacted, including Rochester Community Schools, Waterford, Farmington, and Troy, switched to artificial fields after voters approved bonding proposals, which funded the synthetic turf installation, along with other improvements to the athletics facilities.

Walled Lake Northern was “originally installed in 2002, but replaced in 2012,” said Bill Chatfield, director of operations

for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.

The “original turf system at Northern cost approximately $750,000 and included grading, drainage, concrete border, etc.

Replacement of turf grass cost approximately $425,000, (because we) didn’t need to replace all the infrastructure,” said Judy Evola, spokesperson for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools.

“Western and Central were installed in 2005 as part of the 2004 bond,” said Chatfield. “Ten to 12 years is the expected life of a turf field, but that varies with use.

Western and Central are still in pretty good shape and should last several more years.”

E T he EPA recently stated that previous studies conducted by federal, state and local agencies, including the Consumer Protection Safety Commission and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry “were not sufficient in size or scope, to draw conclusions about the safety of all fields and they cannot fully answer questions that have recently arisen about exposure to tire crumb beads and their potential to be ingested or get under the skin when abrasions occur, and what if any potential risks might be posed from that exposure.”

Yet, the EPA continues to fail to conduct an independent federal study, asserting that “states and local governments are the primary agencies for regulating the management of used tires and have been responsible for assessing the environmental and public health impacts and challenges of managing tire piles, which can be vectors for mosquitoes and/or at risk for tire fires.”

While under scrutiny for safety, artificial fields have gained substantial popularity as a more reliable playing

vola said the costs for maintenance with grass ran approximately $25,000 per year including irrigation, fertilizer, striping the lines, and seeding. Maintenance for turf, on the other hand, costs about $10,000 per year for raking, replenishing the rubber infill and occasionally making seam repairs.

Rochester Adams, Rochester High and Stoney Creek put in their new fields in 2005. “They were part of a 2003 bond that renovated the middle schools and updated some athletic facilities,” said Rochester Community Schools enrichment and athletic supervisor Tim Novak.

Farmington Public Schools installed synthetic turf fields one at a time at each of the district’s three high schools after voters approved a 2004 bond proposal.

Margaret Tellford, athletics secretary for Farmington, said, “It’s easier to take care of. We supposedly save money on maintenance, and it’s supposedly easier on children, as far as injuries. As a taxpayer here in Farmington, I’m still paying that bond.”

Waterford Mott and Waterford Kettering each got the new synthetic turf fields in 2013. “Those were funded through a 2003 bond, but it was a matter of the economy tanking,” said Rhonda Lessel, school and community services associate director for Waterford School District. “We just sold the last $15 million of the $100 million, which was for a variety of projects.”

The former Andover High School, now the home of Bloomfield Hills High School,

had a turf field system installed about a decade ago. A year later, one was installed at the district’s second high school, then known as Lahser, which was replaced with new turf in 2012. Bloomfield Hills' Cowdrey said the district decided by a vote of the members of the board of education to switch to turf.

“It was a large expense,” Cowdrey said. “They represent the voters; I imagine they fielded a large amount of questions.” During the construction of the new, larger high school, Andover’s turf field was replaced. What we did was change it to new carpet that represents the Blackhawks.”

installation) because you’ve done the drain work and sub prep; but you do have to plan for that. You hope to get 12to 15-year life out of a turf.”

Detroit County Day School, located in Beverly Hills, installed its first artificial field in 1998 at the school’s Stadium Field, and then replaced it with a new turf in 2011. Other turfs on DCD grounds include Fieldhouse, installed in 2011; Hillview Fields; installed in 2012; and a multipurpose field installed in 2015.

West Bloomfield High School installed its artificial turf about 15 years ago, said athletics secretary Chris Holt. “People wanted to rent it because it was turf.

We’ve had work done to it, like patching, but we’ve never replaced it.”

“For Athens (High School) and Troy (High School), at some point they looked at cost, to cut the grass, maintain the grass, and felt that turf would allow sports teams to be on the field longer, and during inclement weather wouldn’t get muddy. The band is on that turf a lot, too,” said Mike Jolly, athletic director for Troy School District, which installed the new fields at both high schools about 15 years ago. “Back in 1999, 2000, it was about a million (dollars) a field. That price came down.”

The Roeper School began renting time on artificial turf from Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac to ensure their players have the field for the hours of practice during the athletic season.

“We’ve rented it for the next 15 years during the athletic seasons,” said Ed Sack, interim athletic director. Roeper has reserved their slot “from 4 to 6 p.m. for three months in the fall and three months in the spring.”

Sack said the community was excited.

“We wanted to have assurance we would have a place to have our kids play in the long term.” Roeper had previously been renting time and playing space at St. James Park, behind the YMCA in Birmingham.

None of the schools said they had had an increase in injuries due to play on artificial turfs; neither was there concern over potential risks to their athletes. Most local athletic directors focused on the positive aspects of the turf, and the decreased cost to their school, while nationwide there is an increasing concern over potential health risks to athletes.

Each new synthetic turf field, using crumb rubber infill, utilizes about 40,000 tires, said Nancy Alderman, president of Connecticut-based Environment &

Human Health, Inc. (EHHI), a non-profit composed of physicians and public health officials. “Recycling is good, but certain products should never be recycled,” said Alderman. “You shouldn’t recycle lead, you shouldn’t recycle asbestos, and you shouldn’t recycle tires where children play.” EHHI began researching the effects of exposure to ground up rubber tires in 2006.

“We didn’t really think about it,” said GLELC's Leonard of Wayne State. “We saw the benefits of increased usage and lower maintenance responsibility, but didn’t give full consideration of what these fields are made of. The closest we have was a very informal survey conducted by a soccer coach.”

One of the “pros” of such tire repurposing is that it utilizes the endless surplus of scrap tires. “The industry standard is about one (scrapped) tire per person, per year,” said Rhonda Oyer, acting chief of solid waste for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

T A he carpeting on the fields has to be replaced about every decade, he said, and annual maintenance must be done in the interim. “There are companies that come in and sweep the field professionally, and run very large magnets across it for things like track spikes and bobby pins, whatever might fall off an individual and into the carpet.

It gets compacted into the crumb rubber,” said Cowdrey. “They vacuum it, and add more crumb rubber. Our maintenance people can sweep and spread crumb rubber, as well.”

Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills, which played their homecoming football game in 2013 on the new turf at Del Walden Field in the Thompson Oval, purchased the equipment to do heavy duty cleaning on their own. “We purchased a magnet and one of the brushes and our facilities staff come through regularly,” said Steve Graf, athletic director for Cranbrook's Upper School. “They will clean it before the home game in a couple weeks, and once before we put the turf to bed for winter, and once before spring season. We heard that regular maintenance care can go a long way, and that those who neglect the turf, as it's easy to do, say ‘What happened to our turf?!’”

Graf said their turf field cost around $1 million, and that an alumni donated the majority of resources for the project.

“We talked to our booster club about when would we start putting funds aside on an annual basis for new turf. It’s about 40 percent of the cost (of original

bout 9.5 million to 10 million tires get scrapped every year in Michigan, according to Oyer. Before Michigan’s Scrap Tire Statute became effective in 1991, and six years after the first scrap tire law was introduced in Minnesota in 1985, “We had 31 million scrap tires piled throughout the state in various places,” Oyer said. “The response was to come up with a law that required proper management, including storage requirements, pile sizes and making sure there were fire lanes because one of the hazards with scrap tires is fire. If they catch, it’s a big problem for air and water. The other big issue caused by unregulated piles of scrap tires is mosquitos and mosquito-borne illness, so it’s a public health issue.” It’s illegal to put a whole tire in the landfill, but “if you cut it in half, you can put it in the landfill.”

The question is, if tires aren't safe enough for landfills and the environment, are they safe enough as a playing field for our children?

Various levels of authority assume the safety of crumb rubber used in the fields is a non-issue, or place the responsibility

Ask for Holly or Larry Hohnholt Tour more homes at: www.hollyshomes.com holly.hohnholt@gmail.com

Downtown Rochester

2500 ROYAL VIEW DRIVE, OAKLAND TWP. A CONTEMPORARY RETREAT! Nature Lover’s custom home. 4 bedroom, 5 ½ bath. Sophistication, style, architectural detail & design. 5760 sq. ft., 1st floor master suite, floor to ceiling windows over look professionally landscape grounds, pergola stone patio. Finished walk-out basement, central vac, security alarm. Rochester Schools. A quiet location makes this home an oasis. This home is surely to impress! $895,000

309 FERNDALE 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath. Quality custom built Smith home in downtown Rochester. Hardwood floors throughout 1st floor. Karastan Carpet on 2nd floor. Four fireplaces. Custom Kitchen w/ maple cabinets, granite counters, designer back-splash. Custom blinds. Crown moldings. French doors. Two-way fireplace btwn dining room & living room. Formal dining w/ wet bar, wine cooler. Master suite w/ pan ceiling, fireplace, 2 walk-in closets, heated bathroom floors. Custom landscape. Paver patio. Walk to downtown Rochester. $729,000

1037 SHEFFIELD PARK 4 bedroom, 3½ bath. Builders model, immediate occupancy. Two story w/ 1st floor MSTR STE. Vaulted ceiling in GR. Huge KIT w/ oversized island, butler’s pantry. Hrdwd flrs T/O most 1st floor. Stone fireplace.

Andersen 400 Series casement windows. Large mudroom.

Light fixtures, alarm prep, iron front door, stone columns in GR, crown molding in formal rooms. 8’ interior doors on 1st floor.

Natural stone compliments on facade. Sod, sprinklers installed. Outstanding builders warranty. Subdivision w/ pool, clubhouse. $624,900

1824 N. ADAMS 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath. Fully remodeled home.

Panoramic views. Large pond w/ 2 fountains. Custom kitchen w/ granite, high end SS appliances, large island. Two story family room w/ vaulted ceiling, natural fireplace. Formal living w/ fireplace, pond views. Brand new porcelain tiling T/O main level. French doors to library w/ wide plank hardwood floors.

New windows, furnace, HWH, A/C, finished walk-out basement. Master bedroom w/ walk-in closet, custom bath w/ jetted tub. $419,000

Oak hurst updated condo with fin basement 3 bedrooms 3.5 bath custom kitchen w granite attached 2.5 car garage private yard backs to golf course brick custom deck. $329,000 must see call Holly 248-933-1500

3600 SALEM 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath. In beautiful Hawthorn Hills subdivision, backs to treed common area. Open Kitchen to Family Room with fireplace w/ gas logs. Kitchen with corrian & wood floors, newer double oven, refrigerator and dishwasher. 1st floor laundry. Walk-out finished basement.

Newer furnace. Newer roof and new driveway. New gutters. Newly painted outside exterior. $384,000

4715 OAK ARBOR 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath. Clarkston schools. Beautiful condition. Oakhurst country club w/ pool, tennis, clubhouse. Close to I-75, Downtown Clarkston. 1st floor master bedroom. Fully finished basement w/ bedroom, full bathroom, rec room. Designer kitchen w/ granite, hardwood floors. Great room w/ fireplace. Library.

Custom deck. Private treed lot. Attached 2 car garage w/ opener. $399,000

of investigation on different governing bodies. “We, in Michigan, have not researched it. We basically rely on the EPA and the industry to put together standards for those materials,” said Oyer.

“Past studies have not shown there to be any problem with the material.”

According to John Johnson, communications director for the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), the perspective of the MHSAA is that, “it’s up to the schools to do the research and make the determination. The schools haven’t given the association the authority to tell a school, ‘No, you can’t install that astroturf,’ because there’s a body of thought out there about the long-term effects. If the day were to come when there’s an overwhelming body of evidence that it should go in this direction or that, then the organization may take a stance relative to its tournaments because that’s where our authority is.”

One of the questions posed this October by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to the EPA reads, “What does the Agency know about the incidence (percentage of population by sex and age level) of cancers in the general population? To the best of your knowledge, is the incidence for persons who play on fields treated with crumb rubber higher than in the general population?”

In response, the EPA acknowledged, “The existing studies do not comprehensively address the recently raised concerns about children’s health risks from exposure to tire crumb.”

Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairperson Elliot Kay said, “Our agency is not big enough to do everything we want and need to do. With more funding and more enhanced legal authorities from Congress, the federal government can do far more. Progress will remain slow – and much-needed clarity will be delayed – until Congress finally treats potential exposure to harmful chemicals as the public health priority that is should be.”

“Right now, artificial surfaces find favor with us when selecting football semi-finals in late November and soccer finals in early November,” said MHSAA's Johnson. “It’s a playing surface you can depend on. We’re supportive of anything that schools do that maximize what they’re able to do for their schools and communities.”

Amy Griffin, associate head soccer

coach for the University of Washington women’s team, compiled a list of athletes who have developed cancer. To date, she has anecdotal evidence of 38 cases of cancer among soccer players, 34 of which played the position of goalkeeper.

“She surveyed soccer players from around the county who played on artificial fields, and she basically found that there was a higher rate of cancer amongst that population, among those players. So everyone is trying to figure out ‘Why these players?’ It begs for more research,” Leonard said.

He continued, “We’re especially concerned about children being exposed when they play on it. A New York state environmental conservation study found a lot of artificial turf fields contain these carcinogens at levels that exceed healthbased soil standards. If it was on publicly held land, the state would remove the contaminated soil and replace it with non-contaminated soil.”

R

eferencing a study conducted by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 2013, stated, “Artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend [grass] fibers contains levels of lead that pose a potential public health concern.”

It went on to say, “as the turf ages and weathers, lead is released in dust that could then be ingested or inhaled, and the risk for harmful exposure increases.” It also noted that, “fields that are old, that are used frequently, and that are exposed to the weather break down into dust as the turf fibers are worn.”

Bernadette Burden of the CDC said, “The NJDHSS assisted the EPA in a study of a scrap metals yard in Newark, New Jersey, and collected and tested dust and fibers from a neighboring turf field, where children play.”

“The department found high lead levels in the turf fibers, and recommended the field be closed, which was done,” noted a 2008 press release from New Jersey’s Department of Health.

For the study, the department used the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s residential soil clean up criteria for lead of 400 mg/Kg.

Burden said “The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International published a standard for lead in synthetic turf which limits the lead content of the ‘grass blades’ to no more than 300 mg/kg.”

However, those standards are voluntary, not forced. The standard was created after a request was made in 2008 by the CPSC, an agency charged with the responsibility of protecting consumers. After the discovery of elevated levels of lead in the New Jersey study, CPSC stated, “Staff is asking that voluntary standards be developed for synthetic turf to preclude the use of lead in future products. As turf is used during athletics or for play and exposed over time to sunlight, heat and other weather conditions, the surface of the turf may start to become worn and small particles of the lead-containing synthetic grass fibers might be released.”

“The majority of peer-review published studies focus on the off-gassing of chemical constituents and the potential leaching of chemicals in crumb rubber infill,” said Burden. She cited a study published in 2010 from a journal on occupational health which concluded, “This study provides evidence that uptake of PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of football players active on artificial grass fields with rubber crumb infill is minimal.”

“Not one study out of the 51 we cite and make available on our website warns against a serious elevated human health or environmental risk from synthetic turf,” said a March 2015 post

by Synthetic Turf Council, which is composed of executives from the rubber and synthetic grass industries. “No one study will ever provide a definitive overview on every aspect of research that could be analyzed related to synthetic turf. That is the nature of scientific research; there can always be one more study and one more opportunity for review.”

Leonard, of the GLELC, said, “Typically, artificial turf increases usage, and has a lower maintenance responsibility, and those are great. But everyone would agree that talking about the safety of our kids, especially in relations to cancer, you want to make sure you’re making the right decision.

You can go back and, if you find artificial turf is safe, you can put it in later. But you can’t go back and help the child that has cancer or lead poisoning. Those are so much more severe and serious.”

CREATE YOUR VISION

Visionary Showroom

FOR HOME OWNERS: Visionary Cabinetry & Design provides a full-service design experience. From conceptual designs to materials selection, our experts help you every step of the way. We take the time to truly listen to our clients, and focus on designing a beautiful and functional space you will be proud of for years to come.

FOR PROFESSIONALS: Visionary Cabinetry & Design offers as much or as little service as you need. We have full-service designers on-site and outstanding relationships with our cabinetry and materials providers. Cabinetry is available with or without installation. Let us enhance your reputation!

248.850.7178

429 South Main Street, Clawson

www.visionarycabinetry.com

FACES

Greg Kampe he Oakland University men's basketball team had only six winning seasons in 16 years of competition before head coach Greg Kampe arrived at the school in 1984. Today, Kampe has led Oakland to six championships in 14 seasons inside The Summit League, including three NCAA Division I tournaments, in 2005, 2010 and 2011.

Kampe, who spent six seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo prior to coming to Oakland, became the fifth active Division I coach to win 500 games at one school, finished third all-time in the Summit League with 147 league victories, and earned a league-best five Coach of the Year accolades.

Now in his 31st season at Oakland, Kampe said he believes the Golden Grizzlies have a good chance of moving into the Sweet 16 again, and perhaps beyond.

"We went to Spain and played three games there and got a good look at ourselves," he said. "I really like what's going on. I like our team a lot, and we have a chance to be really good."

Kampe had already built a winning basketball program in the years after he arrived and took over the former Division II Pioneers. In 1998, the school became a Division I team, competing against the best teams in the country. The move helped to transform Oakland University from a commuter school of about 9,000 students to a growing university of about 20,000 students.

"I was against it," Kampe said about the division change. "We had been to the Sweet 16 before, and things were going really good. I thought it would be best to stay in Division II, but (then president Gary D. Russi) had

T

this vision of what this could do, and he was right. We've had a lot of success in Division I, and not just in basketball."

Likewise, Kampe's coaching goes beyond the court.

"There's a lot more than Xs and Os on the board and getting them to the right spot on the floor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you have to get them to the right spot in life," he said. "Making them understand the importance of education, and social graces. There's a lot of teaching that has to be done."

To that point, more than 30 players under his direction have gone on to play professionally in the NBA or overseas. At home, Kampe's own children have followed in a tradition of athletic careers. His late father, Kurt, was an offensive guard on a University of Michigan's Rose Bowl team, and went on to be a football coach in Saginaw. His brother was a defensive back for Michigan, and two of his three sons have gone on to play college athletics. His youngest son is currently playing basketball at an Oakland County high school.

While Kampe is an Ohio native, 30 seasons have since made Oakland University home.

"I'm not going anywhere. I've been fortunate to last this long at one place. I'm sure there are people that wonder why someone would stay so long, but I've been lucky they have allowed me to," he said. "I feel like I have a lot of years left. I have had a lot of opportunities. I've turned some jobs down and looked at those that I was interested in. I've obviously had conversations with other schools. Somehow, I'm still here after 32 years."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

THE LAST FARMERS IN OAKLAND • WHO'S IN THE PULPITS • RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS • OAKLAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS • CABLE TV CHANGES

LOCAL

ILLEGAL DISCHARGES INTO LOCAL WATERS • CRISIS HOTLINES • SCHOOL TRUANCY ENDGAME FOR UNIONS? • GOURMET MARKET WARS • WHO'S TRACKING YOU CHALDEAN MIGRATION HISTORY • LOBBYISTS SHAPING THE DEBATE • DOWNSIDE OF Downtown.

SEXTING • INNOCENCE PROJECT ONLINE EDUCATION • CONTROLLING HOUSE The •leading publication in Oakland County, now PARTIES • THE SHERIFF BOUCHARD INTERVIEW • KLU with a local edition serving theKLUX KLAN • SCHOOL POLICE Rochester/Rochester Hills area.

PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDERS • CHEMICALS IN MUNICIPAL WATER • THE Quality monthly editorial print product.

IMMUNIZATION DEBATE Augmented • PLAN B REALITY LOCAL POLICE DETECTIVES • REPORT by weekly•news updates at downtownpublications.com.

Produced by some of the most CARD ON AIR QUALITY • SCAMMING THE VULNERABLE • SECRET TRAIN CARGO experienced journalists.

Leadership on issues CAMPAIGN CASH • TESTING THE SWIMMING BEACHES • THE JEWISH MIGRATION important to local residents.

Track record of supporting CULTIVATING • YOUNG DONORS • THE STATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA • CLEANING local businesses as part of our effort to helpTEST maintain UP TOXIC SITES • MASS TRANSIT LITMUS • DRUG MONEY FORFEITURES strong communities so they reach• their full potential.

MISSING STATE CLEAN-UP can FUNDS ZERO-TOLERANCE IN SCHOOLS • SCHOOL, Join local business GOVERNMENT WEBSITES • LATEST THREAT TOleaders WATER QUALITY

OVER JUDGES •

CONTROVERSY

in our January issue.

Ad CROSSROADS deadline Friday, December 18.

OCC AT THE • RISING ASSESSMENTS NOT HELPING

Contact Mark Grablowski.

LOCAL FACE OF HUNGER • TRAFFICKING OF MINORS • PAY-TO-PLAY IN SPORTS Office: 248.792.6464, ext 601.

Cell: 586.549.4424.

BEGGARS WIN IN COURTS • PREDICTIVE CRIME FIGHTING • NEW LAKE ACCESS MarkGrablowski@DowntownPublications.com

CHALLENGES COMMON CORE FOR SCHOOLS • RISE IN OAKLAND HEROIN • GANGS OF

MATTERS

OAKLAND • HEIGHTENED SCHOOL SECURITY • FRACKING IN THE CROSSHAIRS NEW ROLE OF LIBRARIES • CHOOSING A NON-PROFIT • TESTING LOCAL NOISE LEVELS THE PATTERSON INTERVIEW • THE STATE OF THE LAKES • ETHICS RULES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT • RIDING WITH A SHERIFF DEPUTY • TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

MARKET OFFERINGS DECEMBER 2015

Apple Trees by Kazimir Severinovic Malevich

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

UNIQUE 16.23 ACRES Rochester $1,350,000 Spectacular property ready to build/develop a private retreat and/or recreation area of your own design. 215094225 Presented by Donna Barlow

3

4.1

5200

$288

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Metamora $1,499,900 "Laughin Fox Farm" sitting on 24 stunning acres. 215105389 Presented by Lee Embrey

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

5

5.2

6131

$211

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Rochester Hills $1,295,000 Magnificent & Grand Estate located in gated Oak Pointe subdivision. 215037068 Presented by Susan Johnson

3

3

4500

$272

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Lake Angelus Frontage $1,225,000 Completely remodeled in the past 7 years. 215113393 Presented by Lee Embrey

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

Pa P a rk C i ty, t y , Utah U t ah | Su mmit Sot S o t h eb ebyy ’’ss I nt ntee r na tio na l Rea R e a lty lt y | +1 + 1 43 4 3 5 214 21 4 0 014 0 14 © MMX MMXV VS Sotheby’s otheby’s Int International ernational R Realty ealty A Affiliates ffiliates LLC. LLC. All Rights Rights Reserved.

Reserved. Sotheby’s Sotheby’s International International Realty Realty Affiliates Affiliates LLC LLC fully supports supports the principles principles of of the Fair Fair Housing Act Act and the Equal Equal Opportunity Opportunity Act. Act. Each Each Office Office is Independently O Owned wned and O Operated. perated. S Sotheby’s otheby’s Int International ernational R Realty ealty and the Sotheby’s Sotheby’s International International Realty Realty logo logo are are registered registered (or (or unr unregistered) egistered) service service marks marks licensed licensed to to Sotheby’s Sotheby’s International International Realty Realty Affiliate Affiliate LLC. LLC.

winter wonderland

YOUR SEARCH...RE-DEFINED. i m m e r s e yo u r s e l f i n s i r.c o m

4

3.2

5276

$194

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Troy $1,024,999 Attention to detail at every turn in this Beach Forest Classic Colonial. 215122665 Presented by Christine Drinkwater & Pat O'Neill

5

4.1

4437

$223

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Oakland Township $989,900 Charming home in Goodison Place on a quiet pristine cul-de-sac. 215084708 Presented by Jennifer Valenti

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

4

4.1

4881

$164

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Oakland Township $799,999 Gorgeous all brick Colonial located on over 10 acres of privacy. 215044344 Presented by Susan Johnson

3

2.1

3500

$207

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Troy $725,000 Sophisticated split level town home with private court. 215059929 Presented by Ronni Keating

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

3

1.1

1485

$154

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Rochester $229,000 Great downtown location on a beautiful, spacious lot. 215125872 Presented by Christine Johnson

2

2.1

1747

$122

BEDS

BATHS

SQ. FT.

$/SQ.FT.

Shelby Township $213,000 Pristine newer luxury condo with acclaimed Utica schools. 215109102 Presented by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublistsky

signaturesothebys.com

248.644.7000

near or far

A Full Service Relocation Department with Distinguished Connections Helping our clients navigate the world of real estate is what sets us apart.

We are unmatched in our ability to connect buyers and sellers globally.

As a primary real estate brokerage for Cartus Relocation, a global leader in the relocation industry, Signature Sotheby's International Realty participates in servicing relocation buyers coming into our area and sellers moving out of the area every day.

This is our world.

Because a homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal extends far beyond what is near.

EXPERIENCE A WORLD OF CONNECTIONS With 828 offices in 61 countries, we are all encompassing. From the enchanting beauty of France to the age-old country that is Thailand.

Our locations may be abounding, but our unique-ness remains perfectly constant.

Susan Bailey susan.bailey@sothebysrealty.com f nf s@s bsc800.458.7356 m m m24 . 2.44 . 740.

415 S. Old38Woodward E M Ave. RoBirmingham, o Bi dm gMichigan hm 48009 c i gai4808098

ss

k

0

LIKE NO OTHER YOUR HOME COULD HAVE COUNTLESS VISITORS this month, without your ever needing to open the door. To showcase your home on sothebysrealty.com, is to gain additional exposure on over 16 highly regarded websites around the globe. From the online digital network that is wsj.com, to the international luxury resource jameslist.com, introduce your home to those near and those far.

Because the more introductions, the more possibilities

This isis our our world. world.

This With views like these, you need not look further.

We We appreciate appreciatethe theopportunity opportunitto y timpart o impathe rt thmany e mareasons ny reasowhy ns why SKBK Signature Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty is like no other and hope that you Sothconsider ebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Injoining ternatius onainl R eapursuit lty is likof e nexcellence o other anto d hhelp opecarry that on youthe will will the vision considoferartfully joininguniting us in textraordinary he pursuit of homes excellewith nce textraordinary o help carry olives. n the

vision p of artfully euniting extraordinaitry homes waith exetraordninaryelives.

S

al i n

Equal Housing Opportunity

t

t

o

r x

h

le r

s

e

B t

u

l

o

lp c r

he

t

r

v

FIGHTING OVER ASSESSMENTS FEW WINS FOR COMMUNITIES AT TAX TRIBUNAL

BY LISA BRODY

B

efore Northland Mall shuttered its doors and fell into foreclosure, it was already costing the city of Southfield millions of dollars, as its owners challenged the city's assessed value, the price a municipality determines for tax purposes what a property is worth.

For at least 15 years before the mall was foreclosed, subsequent owners disputed the city's assessments, which originally valued it at $36 million.

Owners brought it before the Michigan Tax Tribunal, and Southfield sued and lost, receiving a reduced assessment for the mall of half â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $18 million. The mall property, which recently sold to the city for a little over $2 million, will be completely taken off the tax rolls, demolished, and sold for redevelopment.

In every community, parcels of property are assessed and evaluated for their value, and then provided a value for taxation purposes.

When the millage in the municipality is applied to the value, the property tax is determined for the specific property, whether it is residential, commercial or industrial.

Not every property owner, however, likes or agrees with the assessed value of their property. Their redress is in the form of boards of review in their city, township or village, or by taking it to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, where the five appointed judges look at various assessments, listen to attorneys' arguments, and determine the absolute valuation at that period of time for a property.

T

he Michigan Tax Tribunal is a tax appeals court that most residents have never heard of. It is an administrative court that hears tax appeals cases for all Michigan taxes, with an emphasis on property tax cases. The tax tribunal is divided into two separate divisions, with the Small Claims Division hearing primarily residential cases and some agricultural appeals, while the Entire Tribunal hears all other cases.

If you get your tax bill twice a year and pay it promptly, how does the Michigan Tax Tribunal still affect you? A case going before the tax tribunal can have a significant financial impact to your community, costing it a great deal of revenue. Occasionally, a city, township or village may actually receive a more significant judgement from the tribunal, but in most cases, either a judgement from the tax tribunal, or a settlement between the municipality and the plaintiff is reached that is significantly less than the original assessment, such as what the city of Southfield experienced with Northland Mall. And the losers are actually all the residents and businesses in the municipality, because there is less money to provide services to everyone in that municipality.

Cities, townships and villages receive a majority of their revenues for their general operating funds from property taxes. These taxes fund municipal programs and services, including police and fire protection, capital and infrastructure improvements, often refuse and waste collection, and can include recreational facilities and activities. The revenue source is based on the taxable valuation of residential, commercial and industrial real and personal property as determined by the city or township assessor. Many communities in Oakland County outsource their assessing duties to the Oakland County Equalization Division, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce Township, Rochester, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake, while others have their own municipal assessor.

Millage rates levied on taxable values are determined annually during the budget process for the municipality, and are established in order to have adequate funding to support the level of services, programs and projects that have been approved in the annual budget. In Oakland County, tax bills also include school millages, taxes for Oakland Community College, state education tax, an Oakland County tax, and millages for the Detroit Zoo, Detroit Institute of Arts, Oakland County Parks and Recreation, and in some municipalities, Oakland County Public Transportation millage for SMART services.

The Great Recession not only saw a massive drop in property values and attendant assessed values, but also challenges to municipal assessments of property, regardless of whether they were residential, commercial, or industrial.

“When the economy went down, tax tribunal cases inversely went up,” said Glenn Lemon, assessor for the city of Novi.

“At one time, we had more than 300 cases before the tribunal, just business, commercial, and industrial, not counting any residential. The numbers have fallen down considerably now. We only have about five cases.”

At one point in Oakland County during the recession, about $3.9 billion in taxable value, or 5 percent of the county's tax base, was under review by the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

“There's a gap now between assessed values and taxable values. We're looking at 2028 before we're at the same taxable value.” noted Nino Licari, assessor for the city of Troy, which saw 600 cases pile up at the Michigan Tax Tribunal at its peak. “This year they're down to 27. We budget each year for tax tribunals, and as they move forward, we adjust our projections. We lost one-third of our tax rolls. Now, we're limited (by the Headlee Amendment) to (increases less than) the rate of inflation. Last year it was 1.6 percent; this year it's 1.6 percent.

Next year, the CPI (consumer price index) is .3 percent – basically nothing.”

“We budget for some of that, because it obviously impacts us, and it's been bad since 2008,” said Karen Ruddy, treasurer of Bloomfield Hills. “Our property taxes are our primary revenue, and fund just about everything we do, so there goes our revenue. When you talk about Michigan Tax Tribunal, they can go back three years, so we may be done with a year (budgetwise), and they can open it back up; that's not on our radar and that revenue is already booked. We try to account for that in our budgeting. We adjust at the end of the year.”

For Bloomfield Hills, foreclosed homes hit their community the hardest. “2008 – that was the bad year,” Ruddy said. “It took a couple of years to affect us on the property value revenues side.”

Bloomfield Hills, which is primarily a

residential community, has a small amount of commercial property, which also saw large depreciations. The most significant tax tribunal judgement the city saw was for the Kingsley Inn property, which was assessed at $5 million in 2012; after the tribunal, its assessed value fell to $3.1 million, an important loss of revenue for the small city.

“We've had less revenue, and we've adjusted to the loss of the revenue,” said John Hiller, treasurer of Rochester, noting they do not have any big box retailers or large corporate businesses in the city. “All of the residential has come back, and commercial is coming back, too, and assessed values have come back and will exceed 2007 values this year. But property tax revenue is not increasing unless it becomes uncapped.”

Many other communities were decimated by the impact of commercial properties assessments being taken to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Lemmon said Novi had a lot of empty buildings, including a lot of empty car dealerships, hotels and even the Fountain Walk strip center. “They had a tremendous difficulty getting off the ground. They felt the market did not reflect their investment,” Lemmon said. He said the initial assessment by the city of Novi was $25 million, and the owners of Fountain Walk negotiated it down by $8 million. “We ended up at $17 million. It's a huge reduction. We didn't go to trial because it can cost $20,000 to $30,000 per case to fight it. We can't spend that on each case. It's an expensive proposition. The cost to defend and negotiate, to spend out of pocket for appraisers and attorneys, that's a lot of money, as well as what taxpayers end up giving back in the form of reductions. That was in 2009, 2010 – in that time frame when every community was at a disadvantage.

We weren't giving money away.

“We had hotels, medical centers, mobile park homes and big box stores, like Target,” he continued. “When I'm dealing with as many parcels as I have, they each add up to a lot of money.”

J

im Geierman, Royal Oak assessor, agrees with Lemmon.

“We spend a lot of money, you spend a lot of money, and you don't know what the outcome will be,” he said. “The petitioner spends thousands of dollars, and you spend thousands of dollars, and who knows what the tax tribunal will decide.

With the tribunal, you don't know what you're going to get. The big box theory definitely favors the petitioner, not the responder.”

Geierman said he has done it long enough to know how it works. “I just started my 30th year. You have to look at what it's going to cost you. You know it has value,

but it could cost $20,000 to $30,000 to fight it, and as the tax tribunal has shown, they won't agree with you, so why bother? It's best to come to some agreement. You might not like it, but neither will they, so find some number to settle on.”

L

emmon said Novi went to trial on approximately 20 to 25 properties over the last decade, including twice with the Sears location at Twelve Oaks Mall, where in 2008 their assessment was reduced from $7.4 million to $6.3 million. “And almost none went my way. I think there's an assessor's thing that the tribunal is taxed with finding some relief. We expect we're not going to find we're going to win totally.”

“Two-thirds of our tax base is commercial real estate. Our daytime population is 175,000, while at nighttime, our residents make up 75,000,” said Southfield treasurer Irv Lowenberg. “We have several Fortune 500 companies, and we're not reliant on any one industry, big box or factory. We have 20 to 25 million square feet of office space.

Providence Hospital is our largest employer, and is expanding their operations. We have the auto headquarters of Denso, Lear, Federal Mogul, the German company Durr is coming, BASF. It's the headquarters of law firms, architecture firms, many professionals. New owners from New York just purchased Town Center, which is our largest taxpayer.”

Until recent years, Northland Mall was one of Southfield's largest taxpayers. The mall, which fell into foreclosure in 2014 and closed for good earlier in 2015, was purchased by the city in October for $2.4 million. A $31 million lien on the property will be extinguished when the sale is complete. The mall will be demolished and the site cleared.

“The city took a proactive role so we won't see blight like at Summit Place (in Waterford),” said city assessor Mike Racklyeft. “We foresee a mixed use development over time. It won't be a mall anymore.”

Once it is redeveloped, the mall, which currently is off the tax rolls, will once again be assessed and provide the city with property tax revenue. Over the past 10 to 15 years, Racklyeft said, Southfield lost money on the decaying mall as it went to trial at Michigan Tax Tribunal, and the city lost.

“The tribunal favored the landlord with a settlement,” he said. “Their counsel felt it was worth less than we did. Over the years, it continued to decrease in value.”

The city assessed Northland Mall in the range of $36 million, which was then reduced to an assessed value of $18 million.

“Its value has been reduced again and again over the years up until it closed. In 2016, the city will become the new owner,

and it will come off the tax rolls,” Racklyeft said.

Northland was not the only large taxpayer that challenged Southfield over the last decade at the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

Much of that now-prized office space was vacant at various times, including Town Center, and landlords fought assessments.

Many of those Southfield settled with in order to avoid costly tribunal trials. Yet the city still suffered in lost revenue.

Of greater impact was an issue that is affecting many municipalities – big box stores, such as Home Depots, Targets, Walgreens, Krogers, which build new stores near their old ones and immediately impose deed restrictions on their closed ones, preventing or restricting new retailers from coming into that location, and then insisting the value of their new location be taken from the value established by the old closed one. They are often referred to as “dark stores,” because they purposely leave their old stores dark and unusable by any other tenant.

“Southfield was no different than any other city around the state with appeals on big box stores,” Racklyeft noted.

Every big box store in the city, other than the Meijer store on Telegraph at Twelve Mile Road, at one time challenged the city on their assessments, “arguing that a building is worth nothing even though the value added is significant,” he said. “Many of the suits (in other municipalities) were based on Southfield cases, from Target, Home Depot, Lowe's. They would value property merely on sales, impose deed restrictions on their closed store, lower the value on the closed store, and open a new one down the street for $100 a square foot, but use the $40 a square foot value of the closed store as the basis for their assessment. And the tax tribunal has agreed to that. We settled (with all of the stores) because other communities around the state had settled.”

“It did not pay to beat a dead horse,” agreed Lowenberg.

The big box cases began in Marquette, where 12 big box stores prevailed at the Michigan Tax Tribunal. Marquette has been battling with the tax tribunal for almost four years, arguing that a ruling by the tribunal in Lowe's Home Centers Inc. v. Marquette Township, which set the pace for tax assessment reductions, did not reflect the property's true cash value. The tribunal ordered Marquette to revise the tax assessment by two thirds from the previous three years, and to refund the excess taxes with interest.

Between 2010 and 2015, Terry Schultz from Oakland County Equalization Department said valuations decreased by 40 percent for big box stores in Oakland County. “Every big box store at some point was under review by the tribunal, but settlements were reached in almost every case,” he said.

The Marquette cases, and big box cases around the metro area, are potentially leading to potential legislative changes.

Sen. Tom Casperson (R- Marquette) has introduced Senate Bill 524 which would change assessments to determine “the highest and best use of the property and shall state a value of the property as vacant and a value of the property as improved.”

“The tax rulings when they come down (from the tax tribunal) are often retroactive for several years. Often originally these local communities have given them tax abatements to get them to come into their communities, so after the rulings, these communities are actually cutting them checks,” Casperson said. “It really hurts the communities. Eventually the burden is going to shift to the small businesses and residents to support the communities.”

Casperson said that he, and some other legislators, are running into an unexpected problem as they seek to push this bill and one in the state House of Representatives – a perception that they would be raising taxes, even though it is in the form of justified property taxes for a corporate entity.

“It's like a runaway train right now,” he said of the situation with big boxes at the tax tribunal. But he said he believes the tribunal “has done this so many times now they are digging their heels in.”

M

ike Shapiro, an attorney with Honigman who represents many big box stores before the tax tribunal, stated that “the problem with a true cost value approach is the big box stores suffer from substantial obsolescence the minute they're built because the stores are not built with the purpose of reselling them in mind,” and asserted changing the assessment method would be unconstitutional, according to reports on a November 5 House committee hearing on House Bill 4909, which is designed to deal with deed restrictions in big box stores.

However, Rep. Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), the committee chair, indicated he was mindful of constitutional questions, and said it was worth the committee investigating whether it is something the legislature can fix in a “fair and legal way.”

Casperson has not yet brought his bill up for committee hearings, waiting to see the results of the House bill. “I think it's an uphill battle because of the perception it's a tax increase when it's really a stabilization.”

“The pushback is coming from all over the country because of the success in Michigan,” said Lowenberg. “Tax attorneys want to keep pushing this because of Michigan.”

“If it continues this way, evaluating office buildings and big boxes, it will overflow into other uses, like fast food. The state will need

to intercede before cities and/or school districts file for bankruptcy, because the amount of revenue loss is staggering. It all comes down to services,” noted Racklyeft.

“At some point, it cuts into the core. A community cannot keep any more tax dollars than the rate of inflation. But health costs, electricity are not capped by inflation.” Southfield estimates it lost $56 million in 2009, and $44 million in 2011, to tax tribunal judgements.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner noted, “The township never wins. All you can do is negotiate between numbers, and there's a loss of revenue to the whole township overall.” In terms of assessment battles at the tribunal level, he noted everything from a “dark” Kroger, when the grocery chain built a new one, leaving their old one dark, to the AMC Theater at Fourteen Mile and Haggerty roads, which the township went to trial against at the tribunal.

He said, “In my opinion, all of the cases the owners caused their own “dark” box by declaring nobody else could use it by putting deed restrictions on the property and/or on the site, saying it is a signature site, so nobody can use it for another purpose other than the purpose it had been used for. That's just what Lowe's did in Marquette, where they built new stores and immediately asked for big box reductions.”

Z

oner said in the last five years, Commerce has had numerous commercial challenges to their assessments. “I think we settle mostly before we go to trial, because you can't win with Michigan Tax Tribunal.

The Michigan Tax Tribunal has already reduced, at 75 percent of the big box stores in Commerce Township – the three Kroger stores, Home Depot, Target, Lowe's, AMC theaters. They've all either been before the tribunal or negotiated,” he said. “And it's at least 10 years before values come back up once they are lowered. We have to remember that taxable value supports more for public safety from commercial and industrial than all the residential put together. People always think about the impact from residential, but not the impact from commercial and industrial. It's huge.”

Licari, Troy's assessor, agrees. He said the city is “way out of the woods, but it was a different story five years ago.” Currently, he has two big box stores under appeal at the tax tribunal, the Home Depot and Target stores at Maple and Coolidge in the Midtown Square center. As they are active cases, he declined to elaborate on details.

He said that the Somerset Collection has never had a tax issue with the city, and the former Kmart headquarters has not had a building value in the last nine or 10 years.

“All of the value is in the land,” Licari said of the parcel at Big Beaver and Coolidge. He

said there are three different parcels of over 20 acres, and eventually will need to be torn down. “Their issue is the building. It's filled with asbestos.”

The biggest tax problems Troy has been encumbered with have been office complexes that have been vacant, sold and repurposed over the decade.

“Our biggest issue has been the Northfield Hills Office complexes at Long Lake and Crooks,” he said. “Most of those buildings went into foreclosure and have been redeveloped. Three or four have been sold. Tax-wise, there's a drop, about 33 percent, and commercial has been the slowest to rebound. The former Ameritech building on Big Beaver, is 95 percent vacant; the Entertainment Publications building on Butterfield is vacant. So are several others.

We have 785 industrial buildings. That's a substantial number, and those have rebounded. They're selling at pre-recession levels. Commercial buildings, they're selling at half their 2007-2008 levels.

“A few years ago, every office building in the city went before the tribunal. We didn't really lose – you stipulate to a value, and no one gets what they wanted. If they got 40 percent of what's asked for, that's a lot. It's a negotiation. But 85 to 88 percent of the tribunal cases are settled out of court. You exchange appraisals, you dicker over the cap rate, and eventually, you come to a valuation you both can live with. If you go to the court, you never know what you're going to get. It's rolling the dice there. Reasonable people can come to reasonable conclusions.”

“Our values were really reasonable and we changed accordingly,” said Kurt Dawson, Rochester Hills treasurer/assessor, asserting that appeals have dropped to historic lows in the last two years.

Yet significant commercial properties, notably shopping centers and a big box store, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, in the “heyday of appeals,” significantly impacted Rochester Hills.

City Walk, at the corner of Tienken and Rochester roads, was originally developed as a single-story retail building on 12 acres in 2004, with an adjacent lifestyle-themed community center featuring casual restaurants, a Walgreens and other tenants.

In 2008, the owners fought the city's assessment, stipulating to a $600,000 decrease, Dawson said.

The Adams Marketplace, at M-59 and Adams roads, “struggled with occupancy from the beginning, and they still are,” said Dawson. “We agreed to a decrease in the assessment of about $1.5 million, which is a 30 percent reduction.” He said a shopping center at the corner of Crooks and Auburn roads, anchored by a Walgreens, received a similar reduction.

A new Lowe's Center built on Rochester Road near Auburn Road, pushed the big box argument with the tax tribunal, Dawson

said, “and went down 25 percent, which was about $2 million. It was a new facility.

We resolved them all without hearings. In 2008, we had 56 appeals, and 35 percent withdrew or were dismissed. Some we had pretty good success with; some other big ones, not so well when the market dropped out.”

He said 2009 was the biggest year for the city, when they had 156 appeals, and 76 before the tax tribunal. The only big one, he said, was the Lake Village of Rochester Hills apartment complex on Hamlin Road near Crooks. “We resolved that before going to hearing, and it went down $830,000,” he said.

In 2010, Volkswagen of American, on Hamlin Road near Adams, had a huge vacancy rate, he said, and they received a reduction of $1 million in their assessed value. Since, he said, they haven't had many major issues with the tribunal. Yet, all have had an impact upon the budgeting and finances of the city.

T

he rarity among tax tribunal judgements was received by Bloomfield Township, when they fought LA Fitness in 2011, and prevailed, and actually had its assessment significantly increased.

LA Fitness, located on Telegraph Road north of Square Lake Road, was originally assessed by Bloomfield Township at almost $3.7 million in 2011; $3.8 million in 2012; and $3.84 million in 2013.

“They contended it was worth $1.45 million 2011 and 2012, and $1.5 million in 2013,” said Darren Kraatz, Bloomfield Township Assistant Assessor. He said the Michigan Tax Tribunal heard the case on November 8, 2013, and the order was issued December 18, 2013. “They came back with basically an answer that we were both wrong. For 2011, they said it was worth almost $6 million; for 2012 and 2013, almost $6.2 million.”

He said the fitness facility owners tried to use the big box argument, “and used it very, very poorly. They’re going around the country buying property for big, big bucks, and then contesting their values after they fix them up.”

Another situation impacted the property after the tribunal's judgement. The property had been sold midway through the suit – meaning it's value was uncapped, and the new owner had to pay taxes based upon the 2013 valuation. “The new owners were the ones really impacted,” he said.

Kraatz concurs with other area assessors and treasurers. “Very few of them have impacted us positively. LA Fitness was one that impacted us well, and that's an important one. We've only tried this case.

Most get worked out beforehand. We only go to trial on ones we're pretty sure we can win. This was an anomaly.”

Lynn Baker & Deby Gannes 248.379.3000 lbaker@hallandhunter.com

248.379.3003 dgannes@hallandhunter.com

C

elebrate your traditions in the home of your

dreams ...We’ll help you find it!

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 1450 Silverbell Road | $1,949,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 5,000 Square Feet MLS# 215093146

Extraordinary opportunity to 3 Bedrooms build on a private 10.61 acre 4 Full Baths estate nestled on your own 5,000 Total Sq. Ft. spring-fed pond & “Billion Dollar Mile.” Every available amenity! MLS# 215115450

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 4675 Goodison Place | $849,900 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 6,717 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215086884

ALMONT TOWNSHIP 5860 Sandhill Road | $1,400,000

Private 10-acre estate with all5 Bedrooms brick custom home. 2-story 4 Full, 2 Half Baths great room with deck access.

8,665 Total Sq. Ft. 1st floor master. Walkout LL. Waterfall, playhouse & pole barn. MLS# 215108992

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 2303 W. Predmore Road | $484,900

Picture perfect in Goodison 3 Bedrooms Place close to Paint Creek Trail. 2 Full, 1 Half Baths Spacious master suite. LL with 3,124 Total Sq. Ft. kitchen, bath & theater room.

Tons of updates and upgrades. MLS# 215075112

ADDISON TOWNSHIP 1100 Creekside Drive | $999,900 Builder’s home on wooded 4-acre site with magnificent details & 1st floor master suite.

Finished walkout LL. Gazebo & pond. Backs to the Stoney Creek.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 225 Beach Drive | $145,000

3 Bedrooms Custom built home on almost 6 acres. Bridge over creek leading 1 Full, 1 Half Baths to hilltop entrance. Oversized 1,263 Square Feet master. 3-season sunroom. WalkMLS# 215056149 out lower level. Wooded retreat!

One-of-a-kind log home on Cranberry Lake. Knotty pine & antique barn wood. Views of lake & beach from 3-season porch.

Oversized garage & Swedish sauna.

For more information, visit LynnandDeby.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

MUNICIPAL Businesses kick in parking project funds

After controversy, DTE removes tree

By Katie Deska

By Katie Deska

Rochester City Council on Monday, October 26, voted 5-1 to approve a special assessment district (SAD) in which 141 affected properties will contribute a total of $255,000 towards the $12 million parking platform project in the city's downtown area.

The $255,000 is one "leg" of funding that interim city manager Nik Banda called a "three-legged stool," part of a trio of funding sources which also includes the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the city of Rochester.

“The goal is to make it equitable for everyone," said Banda.

Council member Stuart Bikson opposed the district. "The SAD was not dropped on people recently, it’s been talked about for years. I felt the DDA should kick in more, and only did $50,000. To me, this is a quintessential opportunity for the DDA. That's my only issue, and for that reason, I'm not supporting this."

Council members Rob Ray, Kim Russell, Steve Sage, and mayor Jeffrey Cuthbertson voted in support.

Council member Cathy Daldin abstained from voting, as she owns a business in the SAD. Around February or March of 2016, the affected properties will be billed for amounts they were determined to owe. There will be two additional, similar special assessments for 2017 and 2018, though the amount the properties would have to contribute will be reevaluated.

Council members noted that future assessments are unclear at this time, but expressed hope it won’t have to continue. “I suspect we won’t need it more than a year,” mayor pro tem Ben Giovanelli said.

To determine the amount that each property owner in the district must contribute, a calculation is made based on a formula involving the property's present use, and the city's parking code, which requires one available parking space for every 200 square feet of business.

Added into that is a required offstreet parking space calculation provided by the zoning code. Credits are given to properties that 50

fter months of controversy and discussion between the city of Rochester, resident Jane Turner, and the utility company DTE, a white pine tree was cut down on Tuesday, November 10.

The tree was under consideration for designation as a landmark tree, but a motion made by Stuart Bikson, the city council at their meeting on Monday, November 9, voted 5-2, to not declare it a landmark tree. Rob Ray and Kim Russell dissented.

Mike Chriss, director of corporate affairs for DTE, appeared before council and declared that whether council declared it a landmark tree or not, DTE had the authority to cut it down because it posed a significant risk, and could potentially hit a “40,000 volt line” that Chriss said “does insurmountable damage” “We didn’t want the tree to come down either,” said deputy city manager Nik Banda, “but we have to balance that with safety and the potential cost.”

Eight months ago, the city gave DTE permission to cut the tree down, but was met with resistance by Turner. In May, Turner was notified that DTE planned to cut the tree down, which is situated on the property of Village Green apartments near Rochester's water tower. The Village Green property borders Turner's property, and she built a fence around her yard that included the tree.

Building a case against the plan to put the tree on the chopping block,Turner hired arborists to evaluate the tree. Based on the city’s tree ordinance, they concluded that the tree satisfied the criteria to be considered a landmark tree. Banda, who's a certified forester, drew a contradictory conclusion upon evaluating the tree, as did a forester on behalf of DTE. Banda said DTE would replace the tree with a tree of Turner’s choice, given it meets appropriate requirements.

If it would have been voted a landmark tree by city council, DTE would have chopped it off midway, likely causing it to die, said Chriss. In that case, DTE would not have paid for a replacement tree.

A

currently have stripped and approved spaces.

On September 18, Banda said the most recent calculation would be roughly $100 to $102 per space.

However, as more information is provided to the city from property owners, regarding the number of parking spaces a property has, the amount that will be billed to each party is adjusted.

“After this letter (to owners of affected properties), sent 10 days ago,” Banda said on October 26, “I had 15 people call saying, ‘you didn’t know, I had this or that.’ So it’s a moving target.” Some bills, he noted, are $8,000 or $11,000 if they are huge parking users without parking offered.

During the public hearing, George Heller of Heller’s Jewelry said, “My business is 1,800 square feet, and they say I need nine parking spaces. I’ve been there 46 years and I’ve never had nine people in my store at one time. I

wish I did. I wouldn’t be here complaining.”

Mayor Jeffrey Cuthbertson said, “Parking in most places has been free, but a great deal of money has been spent. We’ve been losing about $250,000 in tax dollars before, and if appreciated over time, it would be much higher. It’s not about trying to slap a tax or assessment on someone, but to ensure adequate revenue and provide new additional parking in areas where it has the most need. A study two years ago showed these two areas (where the parking platforms have been built) were hot spots in terms of areas of need. We want to look at this on an annual basis. As the revenue becomes more stable, more understood, and there’s revenue to service the operations, this is the first thing that I, personally, would like to eliminate, but with $12 million in bond debt, that’s a fixed expense without a fixed revenue, that would be irresponsible.”

DOWNTOWN

Before the vote, Giovanelli said, “We need to step back and ask, ‘what’s the greater good we’re trying to accomplish?’ It’s so people have a place to park on events, and when they come (to downtown), and so neighbors can have the front of their house back.”

The East Side Parking Platform opened in June, and the West Side Parking Platform is scheduled to open Friday, October 30.

Library receives $125,000 donation The Rochester Hills Public Library received a $125,000 donation on Thursday, October 22, from the Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library, a non-profit dedicated to raising money on the library’s behalf.

The donated money is earmarked for programs that directly impact patrons, such as the library’s concert series, guest speakers and quarterly newsletter.

The library, located at 500 Olde Towne Drive, northeast of Main and University in Rochester, serves Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township. Each of the three municipalities contribute funds through resident tax dollars, and “the Friends are the fourth leg of the table,” said library director Christine Hage. “They do the fundraising.”

Friends have been making an annual donation since the group was formed in the early 1960s. The Friends’ annual sale of used books, priced at 50 cents for a paperback and $1 for hardcovers, raised $149,000 between January and October.

“This year, our book sales jumped,” said Hage, “Last year it was $110,000.”

The holiday home tour was one of the Friends’ fundraisers, held on Sunday, November 15, from noon to 5 p.m. The tour showcaseed six houses in different communities decorated festively for the holidays.

The library is governed by the library’s six-person board of trustees, which is composed of elected Rochester Hills’ residents.

The library has financial contracts with Rochester and Oakland Township.

Next year, said Hage, “the Friends pledged $150,000.”

12.15

Rochester Hills mayoral campaign costly

By Lisa Brody

he Rochester Hills mayoral campaign was not only unique because a write-in candidate, Bryan Barnett, won a third term as mayor, but it was also an extremely expensive one for the candidates, who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in their efforts to govern the municipality of 71,000.

According to campaign finance reports that were due to the Oakland County Elections Division October 25, for the third quarter ending September 30, Barnett raised $114,808.25, and had a subtotal of $171,625.71 on hand. His campaign spent $106,363.18, ending with a balance of $64,990.53. He did not spend any of his own money. A majority of his contributors appeared to be residents of Rochester Hills, Rochester and Shelby Township.

According to his filings, he held a fundraiser on April 13, where he raised $35,510 against the cost of the event, which was $2,475. On October 16, he held another fundraiser, where he raised $23,350. The cost of the fundraiser was $6,807.04.

Barnett's primary challenger, Ravi Yalamanchi, raised $93,355.36, of which he self-funded a third, loaning his campaign $32,735.20, including a cash infusion of $20,000 on September 8. A majority of his donations were small, less than $100, donated at a fundraiser on March 26, other than about a dozen $1,000 gifts from individuals from Texas. He also received $400 in donations from Paul Walton, chief assistant prosecutor for Oakland County.

Yalamanchi's fundraiser raised $13,132.28, and cost his campaign $4,043.43.

The third mayoral candidate, Jim Stevens, did not report a filing since April 21, indicating he did not raise at least $1,000.

Rochester Hills Mayor Barnett will earn $114,000 in 2016.

In council races for the at-large seat, Dale Hetrick and Mark Tisdel kept their seats against challenger Bill Soule. Hetrick had contributions of $5,260 against expenditures of $4,754,71, with an ending balance of $555.29. He provided his own campaign with $2,400.

Tisdel had contributions of $6,130.20 and expenditures of $4,804.13. His campaign ended with a balance of $1,497.97. He gave his campaign $480.20; the rest were contributions of $100 or less.

Soule received contributions of $6,885, of which he self-funded $5,675.45, and listed a loan debt on his candidate finance report of $5,000. His campaign spent $6,005.67, and ended with a balance of $879.33.

In the District 3 council race, Susan Bowyer's winning race logged contributions of $2,210, of which she personally loaned the campaign $1,000. Mayoral candidate Ravi Yalamanchi donated $250. She had expenditures of $1,048, and had an ending balance of $1,162.

Bowyer's opponent Julie Granthen raised $3,880.52 against expenditures of $3,024.17, and had an ending balance of $855.35.

In Rochester, the city council contest, four incumbents and three challengers squared off over four council seats, was not nearly as expensive a campaign, with three of the seven candidates, Amy Peterson, Ben Giovanelli, and J. Michael Bantjes, not filing candidate finance forms because they did not spend at least $1,000.

Peterson was elected for the first time to council, and Giovanelli was reelected, along with Kim Russell and Rob Ray. Ray had a previous balance of $160, and contributions of $3,520. He spent $3,680, ending with a balance of zero. He loaned his campaign $1,500, and Summer Ray, at the same address as he lives, loaned the campaign $1,650.

Russell raised $1,735, which she completely self-financed. Her expenditures were $1,413.40, leaving her campaign with a balance of $321.60.

Incumbent Steve Sage, who lost this election, had contributions of $1,417.03 and expenditures of $1,417.03. He loaned his campaign $1,367.03.

Candidate Jeremiah Glembocki had contributions of $300, which he provided, and expenses of $250.

Rochester City Council will meets twice each month, including this Monday, November 9, at 7 p.m. at Rochester City Hall, where council members will be sworn in.

Rochester Hills City Council meets twice a month on Monday nights at 7 p.m. at Rochester Hills City Hall. Base pay for council members is $6,500 per year plus $60 per meeting after a 32-meeting a year minimum. Council president receives $7,850 per year plus $60 per meeting for meetings after 32 meetings a year. New council members will be sworn in Monday, November 9.

T

Condos approved if access available

By Katie Deska

At a lively public hearing during the Rochester Hills Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 17, a proposed condo development, Townhomes on Maplehill, was approved 6-0, pending compliance with particular conditions, including emergency access to the condos via an alternative route in addition to Maplehill Road, the only permanent access road for the five two-unit structures, each priced at $400,000 and up.

Flanked by about 30 homes, Maplehill Road ends in a cul-du-sac that abuts the 3.5 acres of woodlands that developer Ron Jona purchased two years ago, north of Tienken and west of Orion Road.

With the recommendation of the planning department, the planning commission unanimously approved a tree removal permit and a natural features setback modification. A third and final motion was made by Neall Schroeder to approve the condominium plan for Townhomes on Maplehill, which passed unanimously, but caused a stir between the commission and the developer over a condition that states, “Provide a cross access easement to access Cliffview Dr., prior to issuance of a Land Improvement Permit.”

Cliffview Drive is a private road that serves the adjacent Cliffview Apartments, owned by Patrick Higgins. As early as April, it was noted by the planning department that Cliffview Road would be gated to allow emergency access to Townhomes on Maplehill.

Yet, on Tuesday, Higgins seemingly back-pedaled on what Jona said was a verbal agreement to allow access. “(Cliffview Drive) is a privatelymaintained road,” Higgins told commissioners during the public hearing. “I would oppose any use of this road, emergency or not. Kings Cove has a stoplight. This project should go through there,” he said, referring to a residential road that’s to the west edge of Jona’s parcel.

“Access is important to the fire department. If (Higgins) doesn’t permit access, then possibly you’ll find yourself back (in front of the

commission),” Ed Anzek, director of planning, told Jona towards the end of the meeting.

Planning commission chairman William Boswell echoed Anzek. “If Mr. Higgins refuses, then you’d have to go back to the fire department,” Boswell told Jona. “And at that point, you’d probably have to come back to the planning commission.”

This contingent hiccup didn’t surface until the end of the public hearing, by which time the majority of Maplehill Road residents – who took a stand during the public hearing, voicing their opposition to the condo development – had left in disappointment at what they viewed as the commission’s disregard for their concerns regarding maintaining green space as well as safety and congestion from construction vehicles. The development was approved to clear over 200 trees, although many will be replaced.

“I think there’s a huge safety factor you’re not considering,” said Maggie Hay, who has lived on the road for 27 years, to the commissioners. “None of us are happy. We’d like to keep some piece of land in Rochester Hills scenic, and with trees and places for people to walk. But if you do see fit that it should be built, it should not be accessed on Maplehill (Road).”

Edward Kappa, who also owns a home on Maplehill Road, said “I understand the man (Jona) has the right to build. But we’re looking for him to adhere to our (city) codes,” where “elements of the site design are harmoniously designed with the environment, topography and adjacent properties.”

Kevin Parsons, young son of Glen and Lisa Parsons, each of whom also spoke, said, “I want to stop the condos from developing because we like to ride our bikes. I also like to walk in the woods, but I won't be able to because there will be too much construction.”

Prior to the public hearing and the commission deliberations, Jona said, “This piece of property is dramatic, it lends a great opportunity for ten more residents to join Rochester Hills. I worked hard to meet the ordinances with the city. I think we have something beautiful that hopefully will be embraced.”

Jona can’t break ground until he receives the necessary land improvement permit.

Court case puts city on hot seat

By Katie Deska

Mary and Philip Penberthy, who own a home on four acres off of Hamlin Road between Crestline and Fieldcrest in Rochester Hills, are months into their stay at a hotel with their teenage son while they battle the city of Rochester Hills in Oakland County’s Sixth Circuit Court over damages to their home, which the Penberthy’s estimate exceed $250,000, in addition to the loss of valuable antiques, many of which have been hazardously soiled by sewage and mold.

During the city’s summer road construction project to widen Hamlin Road, devastating and haphazard mistakes were made by employees of Kaltz Excavating and Diponio Contracting, the family alleges, leading to a ruptured sewage line and water main that dumped sewage into the Penberthy’s home on two occasions, and flooded their garage with water on a third occasion.

In response to the incidents, the family’s attorney, Adam Cohen, requested a halt to the road work, but was met with opposition from the city, which wanted to move forward with the project. Rochester Hills agreed to provide the family with accommodations at a hotel, as well as storage service.

After ripping out portions of the soiled house in the process of making the home habitable again, the Penberthy’s ran out of personal funds and requested money from the city to pay for damages they consider to be the city’s fault.

On Monday, November 2, circuit court judge Martha Anderson rejected a motion, made by Cohen on behalf of the Penberthys, requesting that the city set up an unlimited escrow account, with $100,000 initially, to fund the Penberthy’s home repairs. Anderson stated, “The defendant’s motion is denied for failing to present this court with any legal authority to support the relief requested.”

John Staran, attorney for the city of Rochester Hills, said the problems began when “The gas company, (Consumers Energy), hired a contractor, (Kaltz Excavating), who went out there and moved the gas line. The gas company’s contractor ended up piercing the Penberthy’s 52

City manager Blaine Wing sworn in laine Wing, Rochester’s newly hired city manager, was sworn in Monday, November 9, during the Rochester city council meeting.

Acting city manager Nik Banda is once again economic and community development director and deputy city manager for the city.

A Sterling Heights-native, Wing comes to Rochester from Des Plaines, Illinois, where he was the director of human resources for the city, with a population of approximately 59,000, since February of 2014. Prior to that, for six years, Wing was assistant village manager for The Village of Oak Brook, a suburb of Chicago. With a population of just under 8,000, and the headquarters of many major corporations, Oak Brook has many similarities as a municipality to Rochester.

He also worked for Flossmoor and Cary, two villages in the state of Illinois.

This spring, Banda stepped in as interim city manager after Jaymes Vettraino announced his resignation from the position to accept an academic position at Rochester College, as the college's first director of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

In late August, city council voted 7-0 in favor of offering employment to Wing, over a selection of other candidates. Council drafted a contract the following month, and met their goal, which was to have a new city manager hired by autumn.

B

private sewer lead,” which is located in a right-of-way easement that borders the now-widened Hamlin road, causing sewage to “back up through their plumbing, and through their basement floor drain, and backed up through their bathtub and the kitchen sink.”

After a second sewage backup in the Penberthy’s basement, “it was discovered that Kaltz made a faulty repair to the sewer lead they damaged,” said Staran.

The third problem involves a different party, contractor Diponio.

While doing excavation, workers hit a water line, which filled up ditches, and when the water was being pumped by the contractor out of the ditches, it flowed onto the Penberthy’s property and into their garage, sullying the goods that were being stored there after the sewage mishap.

A portion of the Penberthy’s property, a 30-foot wide easement where the accidents occurred, runs the length of the family’s front yard and was acquired by the city through eminent domain for approximately $8,100 in the spring of 2015.

“The city of Rochester Hills filed the condemnation action in Oakland County Circuit Court to acquire a portion of the Penberthy’s front yard without the Penberthy’s consent, and that’s the city’s legal right,” in terms of eminent domain, said Cohen. “But, the quid pro quo for the taking is that

the city has to pay for all the consequences of its acquisition. They seem to lose sight of that when it comes time to pay the compensation.”

“The city’s position is that we’re trying to help (the Penberthys), but the city is not responsible or liable for negligent acts of other contractors,” said Staran.

Mayor Bryan Barnett, on Wednesday, November 4, said he lives about a quarter-mile from the Penberthy’s home and that he has met with the Penberthys several times over the course of the construction, “at the beginning of the road project, during negotiations, and once during court (for the eminent domain case).”

But, with regard to the recent turn of events, he said, “The city is trying to find a solution here… I haven’t personally met with them recently…

This is a matter that’s being handled by their legal team and our legal team.”

When asked if the city had paid the contractors already, Barnett said, “I think there’s still some bonding that hasn’t been completed. I don’t know the answer to that question.”

The Penberthys and Cohen aren’t giving up.

“The court said it lacked legal authority to establish an interim emergency escrow to fund repairs to my client’s home,” Cohen said.

“Although the effect of that ruling

DOWNTOWN

will delay justice, when this is said and done, the city will be held responsible and have to pay.”

Condos approved for Rochester Hills The Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, November 9, unanimously approved a site plan for Brampton Parc Condominiums, consisting of six two-unit duplexes on 2.93 acres between Hamlin and School roads, east of John R. Road, which was recommended for approval by the city's planning commission.

Brampton Parc condos will line a cul-de-sac, and range from 1,250 to 2,100 square feet, starting at $350,000, with various interior floor plans. "I anticipate all the units being owner-occupied," said developer Jim Polyzois. "The people I've spoken with are looking to buy."

Each of the twelve units will be single story, with the option of a finished basement and/or a finished attic area. Each is designed with a private backyard porch, which can be uncovered or enclosed, and a two-car recessed garage, "to enhance the pedestrian, human element of the house," said Rochester Hills Planning Manager Sara Roediger. "The applicant worked with (the city) to modify that."

Council voted 7-0 to approve the site plan.

Tienken Road finally re-opens to drivers Tienken Road between Brewster and Livernois, opened to drivers on Monday, November 2.

However, while the crews finish minor restoration work behind the curb, “there will be intermittent lane closures for probably a couple weeks,” said Craig Bryson of the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC).

The stretch of between Brewster and Livernois was a major resurfacing project, and part of a larger Tienken Road project that began in fall of 2014 and continued into the road construction season of 2015, which included adding a continuous left-turn lane on Tienken between Livernois and Rochester roads, and building a roundabout at Livernois and Tienken.

12.15

Mixed-use building coming to Rochester The Rochester Planning Commission approved a mixed-use development at the northwest corner of N. Main and Ferndale streets, composed of eight upper story apartments and three street level offices, on Monday, November 2.

“It’s been in the works for probably six months,” said Nik Banda, deputy city manager and economic community development director. “We couldn’t find a plan at first. (The developer and architect) didn’t like it, we didn’t like it, now everyone likes the plan.”

A special exception was approved along with the site plan. The area is zoned as an office district, but the special exception allows for the mixed-use development of residential and office space. Due to the special exception, the planning commission is the only approving body, compared to many plans that require final approval by city council.

The two-story building, being erected on the lots of 1205 and 1213 Main Street, is a project of developer Gregory Schneider and Designhaus Architects. This will be Scheider’s first development in Rochester, although he has others elsewhere in Michigan.

It’s expected that crews will break ground in the spring.

Water, sewer rates to change in December

By Katie Deska

Following a three-year study of water usage in the city of Rochester, a new rate structure for water and sewer rates was approved by Rochester City Council on Monday, November 9, by a vote of 5-2, after a presentation by consultant and former city manager Jaymes Vettraino.

On a motion made by Cathy Daldin, council approved the ordinance structure to set the rates on water and sewer, which will become effective at the end of December, when the new billing cycle begins. Daldin moved that two conditions be included. First, that consumers bills be “broken down to be as transparent as reasonable” and, second, that council will “hold a special meeting in April or May” to downtownpublications.com

discuss potential adjustments to the rates, if any are necessary, in July or August.

By spring, said mayor pro tem Ben Giovanelli, “We’ll have a good six months worth of data.”

Under the new water and sewerage plan, Rochester will have two billing systems, one to accommodate municipal well water users, which are mostly on the west side of the city, and one for consumers of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD), which are primarily on the east side of the city.

Vettraino said for residents who receive water through DWSD, about 30 percent will have a cheaper bill, while roughly 70 percent will face an increased bill. About 45 to 55 percent of well water users will see a decrease in their bill, Vettraino said, while the other half will see an increase.

Under the proposed plan, residents on DWSD who use less than an average of 18 units per billing cycle, about 550 accounts, will see a reduction in their water bills, while those who use over an average 18 units, approximately 1,290 accounts, will see a higher water bill.

Residents on the Rochester well will see a smaller bill if average water usage is under 24 units, a money-saver for approximately 1,050 accounts, while the approximately 850 accounts using more than 24 units will see an increase on their bill.

"The (system) we were using was not fair and not sustainable in the long run. We're eliminating the minimums, which in some ways, the people who had used the least were subsidizing those who use the most," said mayor Jeffrey Cuthbertson said.

According to a three-year water rate study, completed in collaboration with Umbaugh & Associates, the city's water and sewer fund expenses total $5.6 million. Of that total, $3.4 million is used to operate the sewer system, and $2.2 million is for water services.

Council will continue discussion of irrigation meters on Tuesday, November 24. The meters are “intended for people who use a lot of water to water their lawns or have a pool. That amount of water would be deducted from the sewer (charge),” said John Hiller, Rochester finance director and treasurer.

Irrigation meters may cut wastewater bills Rochester residents who heavily irrigate their lawns have the option of installing an irrigation water meter, which will “quantify the amount of water going to irrigation and deduct that amount from the sewer costs,” states a flier recently released by the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW).

Residents are encouraged to do a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether installing the meter will benefit them financially in the long run. For a resident, the irrigation meters are designed to reduce wastewater bills, and according to the city, exclusively determines the quantity of water that’s being used outdoors for watering and irrigation.

So far, “40 people have requested to have their bill looked at to see if they’d benefit from the meter,” said deputy city clerk Megan Frazho.

The cost of the irrigation meter itself is $330. An $80 fee for obtaining the permit and installing the meter was approved unanimously by city council on Tuesday, November 24.

The first reading of the ordinance amendment, to allow water irrigation meters at single-family residences, took place at the November 24 council meeting, as well. A second reading and public hearing will occur at a city council meeting in December. The ordinance amendment would change the city’s ordinance regarding water meters, which currently prohibits singlefamily residential use of the meter.

“We have 30 meters on hand,” said DPW director David Anason. “In the time frame a resident needs to get the house ready for the meter, that would allow enough time (to order more).”

When a resident purchases the permit from the city, the resident will receive a template, which is a oneinch pipe, that a plumber hired by the resident will install in accordance to the city-provided irrigation meter plumbing diagram, said Carrie Martin, administrative assistant for the DPW. Once the city inspects the plumbing, the resident is to call the DPW for the meter to be installed.

Nik Banda, deputy city manager, said, “This is as simple as getting a new hot water heater. It sounds complicated but it’s really easy.”

DOWNTOWN

SIGN UP TODAY Get the latest news online from the leading news organization for Rochester and Rochester Hills.

Go to downtownpublications.com and register to receive our weekly and breaking news updates from the local area's best website. Plus other newsletters available.

DOWNTOWN

P U B L I C A T I O N S 124 WeST MAPLe ROAD BIRMINghAM 48009

53

248-652-7700 129 E. UNIVERSITY DR ROCHESTER

Serving the Greater Rochester Area Since 1975

Jumbo Loans.

Jumbo Service.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP Beautiful, custom built home in the desirable “Lakes of Indianwood”. Located on a private, wooded lot w/100 ft of frontage on Duck Lake, offering 6,000+ SQ FT of fabulous living space; 4 bdrms & 4/5 baths; FF master suite; stunning large windows & soaring ceilings; gourmet kitchen with hearth room; custom wood paneled library; 3 fireplaces; new roof; whole home generator; amazing finished lower level walkout; 4-car garage & much more! $649,900 (1400 D.P.T.)

BRUCE TOWNSHIP Completely remodeled inside & out! This like new construction home features 5 bdrms & 3 baths; designer touches thruout; granite counters in kitchen & lower bar area; new SS kitchen appliances; large bonus/recreation room; all new Pella windows, exterior vinyl siding and new landscaping. Roomy 3-car garage. Located on a beautiful 2.5 acre lot. This is a must see home! $509,000 (71950 D.)

The Top Choice for Your Luxury Home Mortgage Needs

• Loan Amounts to $1,500,000

ROCHESTER Pheasant Creek Sub beauty!

4 bdrm, 4.2 bath home offering formal dining & living rooms, spacious kitchen w/hard wood floors & dual sided FP shared by the FR w/cathedral ceiling & bright, sunny sitting room/den w/FP. Finished daylight LL w/kitchen area, 2 large rooms for entertaining, additional bdrm & full bath.

Large yard w/deck leads to walking trails & Stoney Creek Metro Park.

Community amenities. 3-car garage. $499,900 (1144 M.R.)

• Competitive rates • In-house underwriting with excellent turnaround times • Portfolio Lending available

SHELBY TOWNSHIP Spectacular find! 5 bdrm, 3.1 bath home boasting gracious formal dining & living rooms; spacious great room with recessed lighting and cathedral ceiling; granite kitchen; finished lower level walkout; newer roof & furnace; Generac whole house generator; 2 fireplaces; 3-car garage & all appliances included. Too many extras to list here. A great place to call home! $399,000 (54874 R.)

• A Private Banking atmosphere for your customers

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP

Lynn Wiand Senior Mortgage Lender NMLS #394920 244-6828 (248) 228-4805

(248)

lwiand@talmerbank.com

www.talmerbank.com

MORTGAGE ORIGINATORS in America 2014

This unique home is located in an outstanding location among estate size homes, making this a great 8.95 acre building site! The home needs some TLC, but is a great value for the area, complete with a babbling brook. Updates include a newer roof, gas generator and the well & septic system are about 7 years old. 2-car attached garage. $339,900 (1485 S.)

ROCHESTER HILLS Move in perfect! This 4 bdrm, 2.1 bath home is loaded with major updates and features all new flooring throughout; granite kitchen w/SS appliances; lovely 3-season sunroom; FR w/premium gas log fireplace; library/office; newly renovated master bath; huge partially finished LL; newer furnace, A/C, water heater, driveway. Large fenced lot. Move in & enjoy! $319,900 (1866 L.L.)

800.456.1500 | www.talmerbank.com www.sakmar.com | info@sakmar.com 54

DOWNTOWN

12.15

FACES

Karen Buscemi ut-and-sew manufacturing is a sprouting industry in the Detroit area, and Rochester Hills resident Karen Buscemi, 46, is a pioneer in its growth.

As founder and president of the Detroit Garment Group (DGG), and CEO of Detroit Sewn, Buscemi is a mover and shaker, practically addressing crucial aspects of the cut-and-sew industry. Though not a skilled sewer herself, Buscemi found her niche in the trade after decades of writing, editing and graphic design.

“I co-published a magazine called ‘Town’ for Novi and Northville. I had to do everything, including layout, photo shoots and styling the fashion shoots.

I’ve been doing all that stuff ever since,” said Buscemi, who was also the editor for metro-Detroit fashion magazine, StyleLine, until it folded in the autumn of 2014.

Stitching together her passion for fashion and the city of Detroit, Buscemi launched DGG in 2012, and just recently introduced a new program – the Fashion Incubator. A year-long program that hosts 10 designers-in-residence, it’s designed to provide designers with all they need to get their business off the ground.

“It was basically a year of conceptualizing, planning and fundraising, then seven days of the most labor-intensive work I’ve ever done!” said Buscemi, as she recalled the effort put into setting up the Detroit workspace.

Selected applicants pay $100 a month for access to industrial machinery and training on how to run a successful fashion business. “They have everything they need to create their collection, and have several mentors. It’s going to be exciting to see them on their journey. I definitely think there would be some retailers in downtown Rochester that would be

C

interested in bringing on some of the incubator graduates.”

Another program offered by DGG is a six-week industrial sewing certification. “Henry Ford College, Michigan Works, and Lear came together (with DGG) to all start this program,” said Buscemi. “We took that program statewide this year, and partnered with three other colleges around the state where the cut-and-sew industry is plentiful.” Community colleges in Lansing, Grand Rapids, and St. Clair County are launching programs with the curriculum that DGG worked to put together.

Since the inception of DGG, Buscemi said, “We’d get inquiries from people looking to produce in this area, and we didn’t have a full-service cutand-sew manufacturer in southeast Michigan.” That was until this year, when Buscemi opened Detroit Sewn – a sewing factory in Pontiac.

“It’s funny because I can’t sew. I run the business and the others are the experts at the machines. I wish I could sew!” With a crew of seven sewers, Buscemi plans to hire two more in order to handle demand. Not yet six months into the business, Detroit Sewn serves 15 clients, some of which hail from the greater Rochester area. “We’re primarily apparel, and we have automotive clients and some home goods clients. We offer technical illustrations, sketches of clothing designs, pattern making, sample making,” she said. “We cut out the pattern pieces in the fabric, we sew, and we offer some graphic design services.”

A wife and mother of two boys, Buscemi said, “There are certainly times, especially with the non-profit, when I say, ‘Why am I doing this?’ It’s not a question of when I’m going to do it, but how.”

Story: Katie Deska

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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 listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Rochester area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown. 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.

Rochester/Rochester Hills 112 Pizzeria Bistro: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2528 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.289.6164.

Alex’s of Rochester: Italian, Greek, & American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.2288.

Antoniou’s Pizza: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 918 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.650.2200.

Avery’s Tavern: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2086 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.270.4030.

B Spot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

176 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.218.6001.

Bangkok Cuisine: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 727 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.652.8841.

Bar Louie: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 1488 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.218.5114.

Bean and Leaf Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

439 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1411.

Big Boy: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 3756 S. Rochester Road., Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.5540. Also 90 E. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.601.7777.

Bologna Via Cucina: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

334 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.3300.

Buffalo Wild Wings: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1234 Walton Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3999.

Chadd’s Bistro: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 1838 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.0665.

Cheng’s Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2666 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.9450.

Chili’s: Tex-Mex. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2735 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.299.5281.

Chipotle Mexican Grille: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2611 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.402.0047. Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 84 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.402.0047.

Chomp Deli & Grille: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 200 S. Main Street,

downtownpublications.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM TMH

Rochester, 48307. 888.342.2497.

CJ Mahoney’s Sports Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 3260 S. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307. 248.293.2800.

CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.853.6600.

Clubhouse BFD (Beer-Food-Drink): American. Lunch, Saturday & Sunday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 2265 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.6093.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1418 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.266.6226.

Downtown Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 606 N. Main, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.6680.

East Side Mario’s: Italian. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2273 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309.

248.853.9622.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 2972 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.606.4519.

Famous Dave’s: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2945 Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.852.6200.

Firehouse Subs: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1480 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.9200. Also 3044 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.7827.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries: American, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

2544 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.299.3483.

Ganbei Chinese Restaurant & Bar: Chinese. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6687.

Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Italian.

117 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.2882.

Gold Star Family Restaurant: American & Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 650 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.652.2478.

Golden Eagle: American. Lunch, Sunday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1447 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6606 Grand Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 12 Marketplace Circle, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.1350.

Half Day Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

3134 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.1330.

Hamlin Pub: American. Breakfast, Sundays. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1988 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.656.7700.

Hibachi House Bar & Grill: Japanese Steakhouse. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 335 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6055 Honey Tree Grille: Mediterranean.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2949 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309. 248.237.0200.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1186 W. University Drive, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3527.

Johnny Black Public House: American.

SERVING DINNER 6 DAYS, BRUNCH ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY. PRIVATE EVENT SPACE AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES

The Meeting House is a neighborhood restaurant focusing on seasonal cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients combined with warm, thoughtful service and genuine hospitality. Featuring craft cocktails, MI craft beer, and an approachable wine list.

301 South Main Street Rochester 48307

DOWNTOWN

248-759-4825

www.themeetinghouserochester.com

The Rochester area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Downtown.

Contact Mark Grablowski for advertising rate information.

O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 C: 586.549.4424 MarkGrablowski@downtownpublications.com

57

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

PROGRAM Beethoven // Egmont Overture, Op. 84

P I N C H A S Z U K E R M A N , P R I N C I PA L G U E S T CONDUCTOR AND VIOLIN

Beethoven //

Monday, January 11 // 7:30 pm Hill Auditorium | Ann Arbor

Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61

Elgar // “Enigma” Variations, Op. 36

Founded by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1946, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra made its UMS debut in 1950 and last performed in Hill Auditorium over 20 years ago. This concert features Pinchas Zukerman both at the helm and as the featured soloist. The program features Edward Elgar’s “ E n i g m a ” Va r i a t i o n s , a s et of 1 4 variations on a single theme, each variation a musical sketch of someone in his close circle of acquaintances.

SU PPORTE D BY

Gil Omenn and Martha Darling and by Max Wicha and Sheila Crowley

M E DIA PARTNE RS

WGTE 91.3 FM and WRCJ 90.9 FM

Fo r t i c ke t s : 7 3 4 .7 6 4 . 2 5 3 8 / W W W.U M S .O R G UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1711 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.606.4479.

Kabin Kruser’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. No reservations. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. 2552 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.844.8900.

King Garden: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1433 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.3333.

Krazy Greek Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 111 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.0089.

Kruse & Muer In the Village: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 134 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.2503.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

327 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9400.

Lebanese Grill: Lebanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2783 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.606.4651.

Lino’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 50 W. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.656.9002.

Lipuma’s Coney Island: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 621 N. Main Steet, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9862.

Lucky’s Prime Time: American. Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, weekdays. Liquor. 1330 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.656.8707.

Main Street Billiards: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.8441.

Main Street Deli: Deli. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, Thursday, Friday. No reservations. 709 N. Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307. 248.656.5066.

Mamma Mia Tuscan Grille: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 543 N. Main Street, Suite 311, Rochester, 48307. 248.402.0234.

Max & Erma’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 122 N. Adams Road, Rochester, 48309. 248.375.1535.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor at The Village location only. 1413 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.609.2121.

Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 188 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills.

248.375.5999.

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.453.5371.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 370 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.340.5900.

Mr. B’s Food and Spirits: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

423 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6534.

Noodles & Company: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 184 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.375.5000.

North Shack: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 990 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.3366.

O’Connor’s Public House: Irish Pub. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537.

Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of

downtownpublications.com

Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200.

Olive Garden: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2615 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.6960.

Outback Steakhouse: Steakhouse. Lunch, Friday-Sunday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations, eight or more. Liquor.

1880 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.650.2521.

Paint Creek Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 613 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4205.

Panda Express: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3105 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.9880.

Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 37 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.601.2050. Also 2921 Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.5722. Also 2508 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.853.7430.

Park 600 Bar & Kitchen: American.

Weekend Brunch. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.2600.

Paul’s on Main: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 630 N. Main Sreet., Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0066.

Pei Wei: Asian Fusion. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1206 E. Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1380.

Penn Station East Coast Subs: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

146. S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.4663.

Penny Black Grill & Tap: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

124 W. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.841.1522.

Pudthai & Sushi: Thai & Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2964 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.6890.

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1198 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.608.2603. Also 3014 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.3668.

Ram’s Horn: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1990 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.7900.

Red Knapp’s Dairy Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 304 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.4545.

Red Lobster: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2825 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.8090.

Red Olive: Mediterranean & American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1194 Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0300.

Rochester Bistro: American-Continental.

Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.923.2724.

Rochester Brunch House: American.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 301 Walnut Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.1600.

Rochester Chop House: Steakhouse & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.2266.

Rochester Diner & Grill: American, Greek & Italian. Breakfast & Lunch, daily.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. 1416 E. Walton Blvd., Rochester Hill, 48309.

248.652.6737.

Rochester Mills Beer Co.: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 400 Water Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.650.5080.

Rochester Tap Room: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6870 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48306.

248.650.2500.

Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 401 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.9300.

Sakura Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

6866 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.608.3867.

Shish Palace: Mediterranean. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. 165 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5464.

Shogun: Japanese. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 173 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5386.

Silver Spoon Ristorante: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

6830 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.652.4500.

Soho: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2943 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.289.1179.

Sumo Sushi & Seafood: Japanese & Korean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, 24 hours in advance.

Liquor. 418 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.601.0104.

Tapper’s Pub: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 877 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.852.1983.

Tim Hortons: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 940 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.8292.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays. Reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4825.

Tropical Smoothie Café: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2913 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.852.4800.

Val's Polish Kitchen: Polish. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. 224 E. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.2660.

Wayback Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1256 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5746. Also 2595 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.2717.

Willoughby’s Beyond Juice: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 120 E. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.841.1670.

Troy Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300.

Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831.

Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083. 248.619.9060.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 5500 Crooks Rd., Troy, 48098. 248.646.7900.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084.

248.637.6400.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

DOWNTOWN

Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845.

NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084.

248.816.3424.

Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500.

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.524.1944.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424.

Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.817.2980.

Tre Monti Ristorante: Italian. Lunch, Thursdays. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.680.1100.

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

248.646.2220.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.865.9300.

Au Cochon: French. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.7795.

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

248.792.3579.

Beau's: American. Lunch & 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.

Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355.

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

Liquor. 245 South Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only.

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor.

Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

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

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.644.8800.

Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

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

248.723.1700.

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

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

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner,

59

FRONT/BACK Front/Back is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening in both the front of the house and back of the house in the restaurants in the metro Detroit area.

Bigalora expands Known for their quick-cook pizza, Bigalora Cucina will open in the first quarter of 2016 in Rochester Hills, in the shopping center at the northwest corner of Tienken Road and Main Street. Patrons “can expect to see more chef-driven pizzas,” said chef/owner Luciano DelSignore. “The biga was born in 2009,” DelSignore said, of the natural dough-starter, made of water and flour, that he said never dies.

“There’s no yeast in our dough, so because of that we ferment the dough for 72 hours, and cook it at 900 degrees for 90 seconds. In that process, the dough becomes lighter, so it becomes a light and airy, lowgluten product.” The upcoming Rochester Hills Bigalora is one of a handful of new ventures by DelSignore and his partners. This December, the restaurant will open in the McNamara terminal at Detroit Metro Airport – one of 25 new additions to the terminal. Bigalora will also have a space at the food court venue that’s coming to the Detroit Medical Center, on John R. Road in Detroit, and Midtown’s Shinola recently began offering Bigalora’s grab-n-go paninis.

Launched in 2010, Bigalora has locations in Southfield, Royal Oak, and Ann Arbor. DelSignore is a recipient of multiple nominations for a James Beard Foundation award and owns Bacco Ristorante, serving Italian dishes at 29410 Northwestern Highway in Southfield.

and his staff, who can be seen cooking in their glass-enclosed kitchen, also are preparing homemade pastas, some hearty, such as traditional bolognese, here made with boar, and chestnut tagliolini with lobster and sweet potato, or light, such as linguini vongale with fresh manila clams and garlic. Diners can choose from starters that include carrot soup, onion soup, spiced beets with an eggplant puree, delightful gnudi, and the specialty, the farm egg.

Reservations here will be a must.

Casual Ferndale eateries Ferndale will soon have two new eateries sharing one kitchen. A 24hour diner and a fast-casual Italian restaurant are moving into 276 and 280 W. Nine Mile Road, formerly Buffalo Wild Wings. Set to open by the end of this year, the Daily Dinette will specialize in fresh-fromthe-fryer donuts, as well as breakfast sandwiches, burgers, and dogs. Pop’s for Italian, opening in early 2016, will dish up Neapolitan pizza and homemade pasta whilst pouring wine and paying homage to co-owner Brian Kramer’s grandparents. “His grandfather was ‘Pop,’ and his grandmother was Nona,” said director of operations Beth Hussey. “When it came time to start talking about a meal, they started three days early.” Partnering with Kramer is Kevin Downey, former owner of the now-shuttered Fox & Hounds. The two men have been working together since 2005 and are partners in Royal Oak’s Cantina Diablo’s. Kramer also owns Ferndale’s Rosie O’Grady’s and One-Eyed Betty’s, the latter of which Hussey co-owns and helped to open in 2012.

Forest opens

Midtown meat menu

The new incarnation of Forest, formerly Forest Grill, at 735 Forest Avenue in Birmingham, owned by Phoenicia’s Samy Eid, opened November 16 after a gentle remodeling. Dark mahogany woods offset glass windows, with chic white light fixtures adding a special ambiance. Executive Chef Nick Janutol, a holdover from the previous incarnation, has been allowed to fly with a menu that is European/Continental, with sturgeon, duck breast, lamb shoulder, as well as a ribeye steak and other fish highlighted. Janutol

Twins John and Dave Vermiglio, together with Joe Giacomino, and beverage aficionado Will Lee of Selden Standard, are working hard as they prepare Grey Ghost Detroit, a meat-centric restaurant slated to open this spring. The partners haven’t divulged a location yet, but mentioned Midtown and Brush Park.

“Meat is a common factor in all we do, though we’ll definitely accommodate vegetarians and have lot of options,” said John Vermiglio.

“We’ll focus on what’s at the heart of Midwestern cuisine. When people say, ‘define the cuisine of the

Midwest,’ you hear a lot of ‘casseroles’ and ‘meat and potatoes.’ We grew up on it, but we’ll refine it from the green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup, and experiment with aging and drying meat.” An idea born five years ago between the Vermiglio brothers, the restaurant intends to be approachable from all aspects.

“Someone can come in a suit and tie after work, get a 60-day dry-aged ribeye, or come in and get something more affordable,” said Giacomino. “Roll in in your Tigers shirt.” The crew will work with local farmers, but said that aspect is not a selling point. “You’ll never hear us say ‘farm-to-table,’ because it’s our belief that it’s the bottom-line standard. We don’t hang our hats on that, with all due respect,” Vermiglio and Giacomino expressed together.

“Somewhere along the line, the term lost its luster.” The two moved from Chicago to Ferndale in September.

“The city is moving faster that we are, so we got to keep up,” said Vermiglio, a metro Detroit native.

Best Chef award Nominated for the 2016 James Beard Foundation award, Executive Chef Jody Brunori of The Laundry, 125 W. Shiawassee in Fenton, is honored to be a contender for ‘Best Chef in the Great Lakes Region.’

“It’s like the Oscar’s of the culinary world,” said Brunori, who’s worked at the restaurant for a decade. “It’s not the end-all-be-all, but in an industry full of hard work, long hours and dedication, it makes you feel like what you’re doing is worthwhile. I’ve always been a goal setter and, starting later in life, I wanted to be a chef by the time I was 40, and I made that happen,” Brunori recalled, who recently set out to earn a James Beard nomination. “It was a crazy coincidence.” The Laundry opened 17 years ago serving breakfast, and then added a bar and began offering full-service dinner six years later.

Brunori went to culinary school after she divorced. “I fell in love with the whole aspect of the industrial kitchen,” she said. “I loved going to school. I decided I would go fullsteam ahead.” Brunori shares the kitchen with her 23-year-old son, who’s a sous chef at The Laundry.

“He’s following in my footsteps and he does a great job here.” The gala for the James Beard Foundation

awards will take place May 2, 2016, in Chicago.

Katoi coming “We’re hoping the brick and mortar will open in January,” said Katoi partner Courtney Henriette, of the restaurant that’s moving into 2520 Michigan Avenue in Detroit. “It used to be Willy’s Garage, years ago. We took the whole roof off, it’s been an amazing construction.” Dishing up a rotating menu of Thai-inspired food, Katoi started as a Detroit-based food truck, and expanded to Ann Arbor this summer. As the team travels between cities in preparation for the Corktown opening, chefs du cuisine Cameron Rolka, previously of Dime Store, and Michael Conrad, previously of Bacco Ristorante, are working closely with Henriette and Executive Chef Brad Greenhill.

“Our menu is usually really meaty or really veggie-based. If we have a lot of vegetables, it tends to be vegan.

The cool thing is that the guys will have better equipment like woks, and can maybe have more large animals like lamb and cow,” said Henriette, noting that the menu currently leans towards pork dishes.

Once the new restaurant swings open, the Ann Arbor location will be on hiatus.

Vietnamese food expands The family that launched Pho Lucky in 2012 opened a fourth location in Midtown Detroit, at 3111 Woodward Avenue this November.

Owners Cong, Amy and Andy Nguyen, along with their cousin Tommy Hoang, present a Vietnamese menu of pho, spring rolls, rice plates and vermicelli bowls. The most popular dish in Vietnam, the team describes pho as “Vietnamese comfort food.” Made with beef broth, noodles, meatballs, and steak, it’s topped off with crunchy bean spouts and flavored by basil, cilantro, lime, hoisin sauce and Sriracha sauce. For a delicious pick-me-up, Pho Lucky serves Vietnamese iced coffee – fresh brewed and sweetened with condensed milk. Additional locations include Southfield, Novi and Redford.

Destination cooking Black Rock Bar and Grill, where patrons can sizzle their steak on a blistering hot volcanic stone,

expanded in November to Canton, at 41601 Ford Road, the former home of Roman Forum. Employing 150 staff and seating up to 450, the restaurant has a dining room with 43 TVs, an outdoor patio with a fireplace to keep warm, and the TVfree Wine Room, a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle. Father and son Jack and Jake Schifko opened the Canton location with partners Karl Albriecht, Janine Morse, and Steve Mellows. A 755-degree stone doubles as a plate for steak. “The volcanic stone sears the meat, holding in the juices and making it much more tender than what you get on a grill.” said Jake Schifko.

“You cook it slice by slice, as you go, so nothing gets cold, nothing gets chewy.” The menu also includes burgers, soups, salads and Mountain Dew slushies for the kids.

“We’re seeing lines out the door during the weekend,” said Schifko.

This is the fourth location, with others being in Novi, Hartland and Woodhaven. “We’re acquiring (locations in) Troy and Grand Rapids within the next year-and-a-half or two years,” said Schifko. Black Rock is leasing the Canton building from the Gatto family, who built the building 40 years ago to house Roman Forum, an Italian restaurant that shuttered in January, 2015.

POP UP INTEL Yemans Street, 2995 Yemans Street in Hamtramck: Joe Giacomino and John Vermiglio, of Grey Ghost Detroit, opening in spring, will serve The Cow Menu, a multicourse dinner, on Friday, December 4. Yemans is now booking for holiday events, said co-owner Corrie Tinker. “We have recently added private parties, we have a chef readily available for all needs.” yemansstreet.com The Menagerie, 31 N. Saginaw Street in Pontiac: Mike Little, owner of Crème Fresh Catering, farm-totable dinner, Sunday, December 6.

BYOB. menageriekitchen.com Front/Back is reported each month by Katie Deska. KatieDeska@DowntownPublications.com. We welcome news items or tips, on or off the record, about what's happening in the front or back of the house at metro area restaurants.

daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

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

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

Forest: European. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009.

248.258.9400 Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations.

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

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

248.594.4369.

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.

Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025.

248.723.7960.

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

248.723.0800.

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

248.646.3663.

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.

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.

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

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

Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

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

248.731.7066.

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

248.203.6600.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

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

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

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

34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.4237.

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

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

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

Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951.

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660.

Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917 Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680.

Andiamo Restaurants: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 129 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.582.0999.

Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067.

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.0082.

The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.547.6699.

Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 310 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.268.1621.

Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069. 248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.7400.

Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150.

Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145.

SIGN UP TODAY Get the latest news online from the leading news organization for Rochester and Rochester Hills.

Go to downtownpublications.com and register to receive our weekly and breaking news updates from the local area's best website. Plus other newsletters available.

DOWNTOWN

P U B L I C A T I O N S 124 WeST MAPLe ROAD BIRMINghAM 48009

Inn Season Cafe: Vegetarian. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. 500 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.547.7916.

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500.

KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500.

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.591.5459.

Local Kitchen and Bar: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.291.5650.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947.

One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220.

248.808.6633.

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900.

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073.

248.549.0300.

Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888.

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.7300/ Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.542.4444.

Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600.

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake

62

Road, West Bloomfield, 48323.

248.851.2500.

The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334.

248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.851.8782.

The Lark: American. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6430 Farmington Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.661.4466.

Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081.

Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, 48034. 248.358.1310.

Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890.

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor.

6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.865.0500.

Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248. 538.8954.

Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.855.6622.

Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American.

Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29101 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 48076.

248.559.5985.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.737.8282.

West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean. Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381. 248.684.4223.

It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.360.4150.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390.

248.698.2400.

Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771.

Detroit Angelina Italian Bistro: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

1565 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.1355.

Antietam: French. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, 48207.

313.782.4378.

Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2040 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.965.3111.

Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.961.2543.

Coach Insignia: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243.

313.567.2622.

Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214.

313.469.0976.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110.

The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180.

El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun.

Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600.

Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122.

Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.5588.

Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837.

Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216.

313.309.7946.

Maccabees at Midtown: American.

Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202.

313.831.9311.

Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616.

Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.974.7669.

Motor City Brewing Works: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221.

313.863.1917.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226.

313.309.2499.

Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.2100.

Roma Café: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 48207.

313.831.5940.

Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No

DOWNTOWN

reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900.

Santorini Estiatorio: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 501 Monroe Ave, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.9366.

Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.438.5055.

Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214.

313.822.8000.

Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.9828.

Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702.

St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216.

313.962.2121.

Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234.

Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668.

The Block: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.832.0892.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.964.4010.

Top of the Pontch: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservation. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.782.4313.

Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.9470.

24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.964.3821.

Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.3965.

Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American.

Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207.

313.393.1711.

The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646.

Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226.

313.465.1411.

Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.

12.15

AT THE TABLE With Sklar's talent, the new Au Cochon has real promise

By J. March

very once in a while something comes along that you just can’t put into words. As a writer, this is what I like to call “not so bueno.” It's not writer’s block. There are just no words. So for as much as I hate the idea of shopping others words, I go to the Internet in hopes of being inspired. After a two-hour long search that included “What is French food?” and “Classic French cuisine” and “Thomas Keller on French cookery,” I finally realized why there were no words. You cannot describe something that has yet to be defined.

French food has no definition. Truly. I am afraid to say it for fear of looking like a total fraud but there is no other conclusion to be had. I could not find one concise explanation of what French food is. There are some that will say that Escoffier and the 5 mother sauces are the core of all modern cookery today. No Bechamel, no Mac and Cheese. No espagnole, no gravy. No bearnaise, no Eggs Benedict. There are some that will say that French food is simply the classics, Coq au vin, escargot, Creme Brulee, quiche.

One article (written by a Parisian) entitled, “10 French Foods to Eat Before You Die” listed wine as number two. Hashtag Soulmate. Some will say that true French food is heavy and born from butter and cream and more butter. However, in Provence and Normandy, olive oil, fresh seafood, fish, herbs and produce make up most of their cuisine. Even though I just used a whole bunch of words to describe what I couldn't put into words, I think you get it.

When you make a reservation at a Birmingham place named Au Cochon, you make some basic assumptions. You may max out your credit card after apps and drinks. You may not get apps or drinks because “Ze waiter may zink you are not sophisticated enough to take up zee table.” You may not speak the entire meal as you can only point at what you want to order. Fancy French words are scary.

Period. And I am not too proud to admit I was prepared to peek in the window then run at the first sight of escargot tongs or tall men with pencil mustaches. None to be seen, I bravely entered and am happy to say how completely wrong I was.

Au Cochon has an amazing vibe. Again, it’s hard to describe. I felt like I was sitting in a well-established, casual village restaurant somewhere anywhere other then Birmingham. It wasn't all polished and shiny like a new restaurant usually is. It just felt warm. Like your favorite, stained hoodie or hole-laden sweatshirt you just can’t bring yourself to throw away. Admittedly, it was a Monday night and there wasn't much of a crowd, but in that moment, all I could think about was how I may just possibly sit there till Le Roosters started crowing.

The menu is small. Pleasantly so. I had looked at the menu online and was so excited to start with the Gougeres with ham, gruyere mousse and mustard, but soon realized they were not on the menu in front of me. It was explained to me that they pulled them off the menu because execution was too hard. After looking at the size of this kitchen, this made perfect sense and I can appreciate having to make apologies for not trying it rather than apologizing after the fact.

E

Skate Meuniere: duchess potato, charred cauliflower, caper. Downtown photo: Jean Lannen

My two second choices of Fromage Blanc and Steak Tartare made me forget about the gougeres from earlier. Sheep's milk cheese whipped and touched with truffle honey and lemon (pretty sure I tasted a hint of basil, too) served with what is listed as toast points but definitely not your average toast points. Think garlic bread put on a panini press.

Buttery crispy exterior with soft, warm insides and the perfect vehicle for the whipped, sweet and savory cheese. The tartare was classically prepared with capers, egg yolk and mustard, but served with chips rather then crostini. Though I loved the flavors of the chips and the casual spin that fit the entire place, they were sliced a little too thin and didn't hold the tartare. Mussels, frog legs, oysters and shrimp cocktail are appropriately on the menu. What was a bit out of place was bacon. Listed as such and served with a bourbon glaze and cracked pepper. With all the options available for small plates in a French cafe, bacon is a sell out. Period.

Seven entrees are offered. Once again, you can tell that the owners and Chef at Au Cochon aren't completely convinced they can pull off the entire theme of casual French food so the Fromage burger rears its ugly head. Cheeseburgers on a menu with Chickpea Crepe and Skate Meuniere? That's more like Peas & Popsicles than Peas & Carrots.

I took the manager's suggestion and went with the Steak Frites and Skate Meuniere.Though the presentation was ideal, the Steak Frites were utterly disappointing. The frites were more like shoestring potatoes and the steak was clearly a sirloin cut. Once I was informed that the steak was sous vide, I sighed a heavy sigh and lost a little bit of love for Au Cochon.

Though this will come with much controversy, it is my opinion that sous vide food is the modern version of microwaving – user friendly and perfect for kicking

out a bunch of food with little to no skill or execution.

The Skate was the opposite. Although it came out looking like a hot mess on the plate, the fish itself was perfectly cooked, with a mildly sweet, firm texture and a meunier sauce that was exactly as it should be. The potatoes were overcooked, bland and the charred cauliflower was not only remiss of any char but cold and tasted like it had been pickled.

I ordered the side of carrots and onions with herbs and guessed that my Monday evening appearance made me the victim of weekend leftovers. Much like a couch from Big Lots, the carrots had an exterior of leather and an interior of straw. Although I cannot say what the herbs and spices were, I can say that what I tasted was an abundance of rosemary and mustard seed that were awful together.

Co-owner Zack Sklar has proven that he is capable and talented. Beau’s in Bloomfield is exceptional (at least it was when I reviewed it months ago) and Social Kitchen and Bar keeps packing them in. He has professed to open 70 restaurants and at this pace, it's easily obtainable. There is no doubt about his talent and Au Cochon definitely has promise. Go for the Fromage. Go for the Tartare. Go for the Skate. And if for no other reason, go because anyplace that translates to “The Pig” can't be all that bad.

Au Cochon, 260 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham 48009. Reservations recommended by calling 248.792.7795. Hours are Monday through Sunday from 5 p.m.-midnight, with bar hours extended till 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Street parking is available. Handicap accessible.

J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant industry in southeast Michigan, including certification as a sommelier.

FACES

Eric Gorges t was the late 1990s when Eric Gorges gave up a secure job in information technology and started his custom motorcycle business, Voodoo Choppers. He now travels the country telling the story of other craftsmen on his nationally syndicated show "A Craftsman's Legacy." â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a great job at Xerox for a number of years, then I became ill, to the point where I needed to re-evaluate my life and priorities," Gorges, who recently moved to Birmingham from Rochester, said. "That's how I got into building motorcycles and shaping metal."

Gorges walked away from his corporate career and started an apprenticeship with Ron Fournier, working on vintage cars and building custom hot rods. In 1999, Gorges started his own motorcycle business, building custom and heavily modified stock bikes, all which utilize handcrafted parts. Recently, Gorges began hosting "A Craftsman's Legacy," which can be seen on Detroit Public Television at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The show is also aired on Create TV at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Born and raised in metro Detroit, Gorges lived in Shelby Township and Rochester before moving to Birmingham. Limiting the chopper business to about four motorcycles each year, Gorges chuckles when when asked about his own ride.

"The last bike I had for myself I sold because I needed money to live, and with everything going on â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I bought one this year, but I haven't done anything to it yet," he said.

In the show, Gorges interviews and works with various craftsmen throughout the nation, giving viewers insight into each particular craft and the personal story of each craftsman. Now in his second season, Gorges has featured crafts such as blacksmithing, glassblowing, clockmaking and others. He also receives a crash course in each of the trades from the craftspeople he interviews.

"It's awesome. I'm a really hands-on guy, and that's my favorite part," he said. "We sit down and do an interview, then I get to go in their workshop and their environment and work with them.

That's where everyone really opens up," he said. "It can be daunting and uncomfortable with the crew and lights in your face, but once they get in their shop, everything is forgotten. Everyone opens up in their shop because that's their environment."

While each of the particular crafts and people on the show are very different, they all share a common connection, Gorges said.

"The people we are focusing on, most of them are at the top of their game, so they have been doing that particular skill for a while," he said. "Pretty much all of them are sustaining life doing that. And they are happy. That doesn't necessarily equate to making a bunch of money. A lot of people aren't driven by money, they are driven by their hands."

It's that pride of craftsmanship and artistry that Gorges focuses on both in his show and his life, working to create something very personal to those who create, as well as those supporting craftsmen.

"We sort of live in this culture of commodity. There isn't a lot of value in things because we use it and we throw it away," he said.

"There's so much waste and everyone has so much. We don't think about what we have and appreciate it."

I

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Jean Lannen

ÒRestored my faith in insurance companies.Ó Member enthusiasm like this inspires us every day. PURE is a member-owned insurer for responsible families with homes insured for $1 million or more. Innovative. Proactive. And dedicated to an exceptional member experience.

Korotkin Insurance Group is among a select group of agents authorized to help clients join PURE.

888.746.4572 www.getkig.com

HIGH VALUE HOMEOWNERS | AUTOMOBILES | JEWELRY, ART & COLLECTIONS | WATERCRAFT | PERSONAL EXCESS LIABILITY PURE & member of PURE Group of Insurance| Companies.

PURE Risk Management, LLC H ® refers to Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange, a Florida-domiciled JEWELRY,reciprocal ART &insurer COLLECTIONS | WATERCRAFT PERSONAL EXCESS LIABILITY PRM used with permission. ©2015 PURE.

66

JEWELRY, ART & COLLECTIONS | WATERCRAFT | PERSONAL EXCESS LIABILITY

DOWNTOWN

12.15

BUSINESS MATTERS Manufacturer returns Forward-thinking tech company and family business, Applied & Integrated Manufacturing, Inc. (AIM), has returned to Rochester, where the business was founded over a decade ago by resident Jay Yale.

The office of nine staff members relocated in mid-October from Auburn Hills to 280 Mill Street in Rochester Hills, and serves over 100 clients in Michigan, New York, Europe and Asia.

“We manufacture, design and supply automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs),” said Yale. “Our customers vary from automotive, to aerospace, to newspapers, warehouse distribution, food and beverage companies, pharmaceutical companies – anyone who wants to move things from point ‘A’ to point ‘B.’ It’s a moving robot.” All of the manufacturing is done overseas, Yale said, noting that AIM has tech partners in Finland and Austria, as well as a subsidiary located in India.

“There’s a growth in automation for factory floor systems. Amazon, for example, they incorporate the type of products we sell. They ended up buying one of our competitors. That’s how big the requirements are for large customers.”

Lapels Dry Cleaning Lapels Dry Cleaning, an environmentally-conscious cleaners, opened a new location in Rochester Hills, at 3038 S. Rochester Road. To clean clothes and other fabric goods, Lapels uses Green Earth, a siliconbased solvent, described as a “nonhazardous material that becomes, essentially, water and sand,” said coowner Janak Patel. Silicon is odorfree, and said to be gentle on clothes.

Patel’s partner, Jay Desai, manages the Rochester Hills service and cleaning plant, and the two co-own a West Bloomfield location, which opened at the same time. All customer items brought to the West Bloomfield store and Rochester Hills store are

washed or dry cleaned at the Rochester Hills plant, which is equipped with “proprietary cleaning machines that no one else in the industry uses,” said Patel. In addition to clothes and comforters, Patel said, “people have brought in their Indian dresses, curtains, and other kinds of things.” To accommodate the busy clientele, Lapels offers a door-to-door pickup/drop-off service, and has drop boxes on the premises where customers can leave or collect their items outside of business hours. “We chose Rochester Hills because it’s a growing community, a high-income area, and basically has the demographics that Lapels looks for,” said Patel. “Same goes for West Bloomfield; both are vibrant communities.”

Receptionist buys salon Mie Salon, at 116 W. Fourth Street in Rochester, is under new ownership.

The salon’s former receptionist, and Rochester Hills resident, Lisa Isenmann, purchased the business this fall after the previous owners chose to retire. “We’re doing an overhaul,” said Isenmann of the interior decor, “with lighting, painting, new stations, and two brand new state-of-the-art pedicure chairs.” The salon and spa offers services for hair, nails, waxing and massage. Isenmann recently hired two additional massage therapists, for a total of three. For nail art, clients can choose from standard polish, shellac or vinyl. “We have a great location. The brand new parking garage is directly behind us,” said Isenmann, who has a daughter attending cosmetology school at Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Royal Oak.

Chamber marks 60 years Founded in 1955, with 154 member businesses, the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce has grown to over 1,000 members 60 years later.

SMALL ADS

“We’re servicing more businesses than we ever have before. Our goal is to promote commerce in Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township,” said Jennifer Rogers, vice president of the chamber. “Although a number of our businesses are from outside that area, anyone who wants to do business in this market can be a member of the chamber.” The yearly membership fee is based upon the number of people employed by the business. “Our yearly membership for non-profits is $150, and then with organizations over 500, it goes up to $1,250,” said Rogers. “With that, they get a lot of marketing access. We updated our website, and improved our search capabilities to better connect residents to our businesses.”

Budding entrepreneurs can work with the chamber to create a marketing plan and preliminary budget.

“Businesses come to us in all levels,” said Rogers. “It’s great if we can work with them from (the early) stage, because we have a lot of market knowledge that they can benefit from.

So many people get the idea to start their own business, but it’s so important that businesses do their homework.” In addition to a board of directors, the chamber has five staff.

10 years of learning Huntington Learning Center, founded in 1977 in New Jersey, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in the greater Rochester area. This summer, the center moved from Barclay Circle in Rochester Hills to 120 E. University in Rochester. “Our tutors are either certified teachers or hold a degree in the field they’re tutoring,” said Michele Barton, assistant director and professional tutor. “The fact we’ve been working for ten years and people bring back another child, or siblings, shows that we’re good at what we do.” In addition to subject tutoring, the center offers academic skills tutoring and

downtownpublications.com

Business Matters for the Rochester area are reported by Katie Deska.

Send items for consideration to KatieDeska@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

407 SIXTH ST. STE B ROCHESTER, MI 48307

DOWNTOWN

LimeLightMusic.com

A blind and partially deaf Great Dane was the inspiration behind Kansas City-based Three Dog Bakery, which opened at 422 S. Main Street in Rochester, one of 30 stores worldwide offering Three Dog’s human-grade dog treats. In the late ‘80s, “Gracie had a lot of stomach issues,” said manager Brittany McPeek. “(The founders, Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff,) had to come up with a way to make her eat.

They made her food from human ingredients, and since then she thrived.” Owner Chad Konzen, who also owns the Clinton Township store, runs the bakery’s on-site kitchen, preparing specialty dog treats with all natural ingredients such as wheat or rice flour, honey, unsweetened applesauce, and carob. “Mostly we focus on treats,” said McPeek, “but, we also sell collars, leashes, harnesses, shampoos and toys. We even sell dog food, and have a line from Three Dog Bakery made in Kansas City.”

DANIEL GIZYNSKI D.C. 248-650-1998

Mark Grablowski O: 248.792.6464 C: 586.549.4424

3220 Walton Blvd Rochester Hills 48309

Doggie delights

MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION!

The dominant ad source for Rochester/Rochester Hills.

248-375-0220

exam prep for the SAT, ACT and advanced placement tests. For kindergarten through third grade, the center teaches learning skills including, phonics, reading skills and math help. Fourth- through twelfthgraders can take study skills, though most students in eleventh and twelfth grade choose to enroll in the program focused on exam prep. Tutoring may be one-on-one or in a small group. An evaluation is completed at the start of tutoring to assess the student’s specific needs. Huntington Learning Center is a nationwide company, with additional Michigan locations in Birmingham and Canton.

- APPLIED KINESIOLOGY - NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING - CUSTOM ORTHOTICS - ASYRA/BIO-ENERGETIC TESTING

HAVE IMPACT

WWW.DRGDC.COM DOWNTOWN

67

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.

Palladium/Ironwood Grill Charity Opening

1

2

3

5

4

6

1. Emagine Palladium co-owners Jon Goldstein (left) of Bloomfield and Paul & Mary Glantz of Lake Angelus. 2. Bryan Becker & Colleen Burcar of Bloomfield. 3. David (back left), Alyson and Jeffrey King, Charley King (left front) and Sadie Green of Birmingham. 4. Carol & Tom Beeler of Birmingham. 5. Pat Rosen (left) of Troy, Karla Sherry of Bloomfield. 6. Doug Ashley (left) of Bloomfield, Linda Hartfield of Farmington Hills, Bob Kupfer of Bloomfield. 7. Pamela & Len Dillon of Bloomfield. 8. Lois Shaevsky (center) with Paul W. & Kim Smith of Bloomfield. 9. Jeff & Shelley Roberts of Birmingham. 10. Debbie & Richard Astrein of Huntington Woods.

7

9

8

SAID Campaign Benefit Becky Sorensen and Kathy Ross hosted a cocktail reception that proved how supportive to each other women are. Even when the “other” is a total stranger. As in the case of the 11,000 rape victims whose unopened rape kits were found in a storage unit. Nearly 200 women and a few guys donated at least $100 to the Enough SAID (Sexual Assaults in Detroit) campaign to attend the gathering at the Sorensens’ Bloomfield Hills home. They socialized and savored the yummy hors d’oeuvres and wines many of the 24 committee ladies brought for sharing. All paused to hear Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and campaign leader Michigan Women’s Foundation’s Peg Tallett. They learned that enough money has already been raised to test 10,000 kits, that the tests identified 127 serial rapists and that more money is required to test the remaining kits and to investigate and prosecute the cases. “Every victim deserves justice,” Worthy declared, before Sorensen profusely thanked everybody for supporting the event. It raised $26,000.

To get more information or donate, go to crowdrise.com/EnoughSaid.

10

SAID Campaign Benefit

1

4

7 68

2

3

5

Palladium/Ironwood Grill Charity Opening Things change. A few people still around remember when Crowley’s department store was at the corner of Old Woodward and Hamilton. And now, Sally Gerak thanks to A.F. Jonna Company which is redeveloping the Palladium building that replaced Crowley’s, Paul and Mary Glantz and Jon Goldstein have carved out the most comfortable imaginable movie-going experience on the fourth floor. Think five auditoriums with digital surround sound furnished with large scale, leather, recliner seats that can be reserved in advance with an Emagine Platinum Membership offering many other perks. And for those who want to do dinner and a movie, the Ironwood Grill adjoins the theatre lobby and offers upscale, casual dining with large TV screens for sports fans and a retractable window on the Woodward side for semi-al fresco dining when weather permits. Speedy, new elevators whisk guests up to this film aficionado’s nirvana.

Nearly 1,000 people previewed all of this during the three-part charity opening benefiting four non-profits: Beaumont Children’s Hospital, The Community House, Kids Kicking Cancer and Variety, The Children’s Charity. Nearly 400 of them did dinner and a movie two nights before the grand opening on October 1. It attracted a sold out crowd of 550 for cocktails and a scrumptious, strolling dinner before a movie. The opening events raised $100,000 for the four charities. Change is good.

6

1. Event hosts Becky Sorensen (left) and Kathy Ross of Bloomfield. 2. Wilma Abney (left) of Southfield, Sharman Davenport of Rochester Hills, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy of Detroit, Tia Cobb of Rochester Hills. 3. Gigi Debbrecht (left) and Cheryl Cooper of Birmingham. 4. Roberta Granadier (left) of Bloomfield, Meg Coughlin of Rochester Hills. 5. Dana Sorensen (left) of Bloomfield, Ali Restaino of Birmingham.

6. Ellen Cale (left) and Kay White Meyer of Bloomfield.

7. Denise Kulak and Charles Wickins of Birmingham.

Women of Tomorrow Make Your Mark Event The Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program, which was founded by TV journalist Jennifer Valoppi, a Detroit area native now based in south Florida, serves 1,100 girls in 55 metro Detroit public high schools. One of those is Cass Tech, whose principal spoke briefly at the WoT Make Your Mark event. It was hosted by the family of the late Irma Elder and attracted 150 people ($125 & up donation) to the Elders’ Aston Martin Showroom in Troy. “Women of Tomorrow have been at Cass for five years now…Every Women of Tomorrow kid at my school has got a college scholarship...They are a big deal,” declared Lisa Phillips. She was followed at the microphone by Valoppi, who introduced a video about Irma Elder thusly, “Irma was so passionate about Women of Tomorrow.” The video was a beautiful homage to the late Ford dealer. It featured family and career photos and loving recollections by admirers like Edsel Ford and many in the crowd. All guests received a copy of the Tribute to Irma Elder DVD . And, thanks to Irma’s family who underwrote the event, Women of Tomorrow received $107,000 to provide scholarships, drop-out prevention, increased access to higher education and pathways out of poverty to at risk kids. Women of achievement who are interested in becoming a mentor may call 248.430.4095 for information.

Spirit of Manresa Gala Sally Janecek coordinated Manresa Jesuit Retreat House’s 12th annual fundraiser. It attracted 230 (tickets $100, $250, and up) to the St. Nicholas Center in Troy. Many arrived early for Mass before the cocktail hour. It featured lots of socializing, silent auction bidding, a basket of spirits raffle and music by pianist

DOWNTOWN

12.15

Herbert Meyer before the fine dinner, catered by Opus One. Emcee Marie Osborne opened the program by prompting applause for Pope Francis, whose visit was fresh in the minds of all, by noting, “It’s cool to be Catholic.” Judge Daniel Patrick O’Brien spoke convincingly about the 34 retreats he has made at the 37-acre, wooded Bloomfield Hills campus.

“There is no more profitable use of that valuable land than its current use,” he declared. The cacophony of a live auction was then eschewed in place of written pledges before a ribbon-cutting to open Manresa’s 90th anniversary year-long celebration. Event proceeds were not released.

American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball Detroit’s 13th annual Cattle Baron’s Ball attracted 900 cowpokes to Cobo Center to sip, shop in auctions, relish great donated cuisine and ride a mechanical bull. They also applauded the Cowger Leadership Awardees Kathy and John Brennan, honorary chair sponsor Ford’s Hau Thai-Tang, the Swon Brothers, Annabelle Road and the Parade of Chefs.

It featured culinary winners: Best Sweet- Annabel Cohen Cooks Detroit; Best Savory - Firebird Tavern; Best in Presentation: Coach Insignia. But the biggest applause was for the total raised by the live auction. It featured a 2106 Shelby GT 350 Ford Mustang and generated more than $400,000 of the $1.4 million the event raised. Since the ball’s debut, more than $14 million has been raised to help people stay well, get well and find cures.

Karmanos Cancer Institute Annual Partners Night More than 700 young professionals glammed out in Detroit chic gathered for the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s 22nd Annual Partners Night at Detroit’s Russell Industrial Center. It had a nightclub atmosphere for the strolling cocktail reception and entertainment by Jibs Brown.

Graffiti artist Antonio “Shades” Agee created a colorful mural suggesting Detroit’s resilience, grit and passion. Following cocktails, guests adjourned to club-style seating flanking a fashion runway for the program. It featured remarks by emcee Nathan Forbes, Karmanos CEO Dr. Gerold Bepler, honorary chairs Jennifer and Brian Hermelin and Quicken Loans’ president Jay Farner, who was an energetic auctioneer for the brief live auction. One lucky guest with the winning raffle ticket won a $5,000 Somerset Collection gift card. The Somerset Collection fashion show of designer fall and winter trends concluded with a lively performance by dancers from Next Level Dance Company. They wore special Nothing Stops Detroit™ t-shirts created especially for Karmanos. Thanks also to generous sponsors the evening’s proceeds brought the total raised from this year’s Partners Events to more than $800,000.

Hospice of Michigan Crystal Rose Ball Since its inception 30 years ago, Hospice of Michigan’s annual benefit has been held in interesting venues. Last year’s was at the historic Ford Piquette Avenue Plant. The 30th anniversary event – Chandeliers in the City - was hosted by the Campbell Ewald advertising agency in their splendid digs retrofitted out of the century-old Hudson’s Warehouse at Ford Field. Some 110 sponsors ($500 & up) arrived early for the champagne-splashed VIP Pre-Glow where they snacked on passed savories and chatted with Mayor and Mrs. Mike Duggan, Campbell Ewald CEO Jim Palmer, and honorees Dottie Deremo and Rachel and John Hoffmann. All trekked to the fourth floor and joined 240 more hospice advocates ($100 ticket) for small plates accompanied by Ben Sharkey’s music. All could see the program because it played live on Campbell Ewald’s huge LED display. It featured plaudits and presentations (a crystal rose) to the honorees, their acceptances and the announcement of an extremely downtownpublications.com

Women of Tomorrow Make Your Mark Event

1

2

4

5

3

6

1. Jennifer Valoppi (left) of Miami, FL, board member Florine Mark of Farmington Hills, Sam Valenti of Bloomfield. 2. Laurie Cunnington (left) of Birmingham, Lisa Phillips of Farmington Hills, Dina Cunnington of Bloomfield. 3. Judy Runco (left) of Birmingham, Katie Valenti of Bloomfield. 4. Ronnie Phillips (left) of Farmington Hills, Tom Cunnington of Birmingham, Patrick Cunnington of Bloomfield.

5. Pamela Alexander (left) of Ann Arbor, Mary Jo Dawson of Bloomfield, Stephanie Elder Batterswall of Ada, Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills.

6. Pamela Swift (left) and Sandy Morrison of Bloomfield, Katana Abbott of Commerce. 7. Mary Ann Audette (left) of Commerce, Deborah & John Schrot of Birmingham, Chip Dawson of Bloomfield.

7

Spirit of Manresa Gala

1

3

2

4

5

6

1. Steve Raymond (left) and Peter Kreher of Birmingham, Jim Berlucchi of Dexter.

2. Patti (left) & Bob Kowal of Troy, Susan Wellman of Birmingham. 3. Bob Babinski (left) of Lake Orion, Fr. Fran Daly of Bloomfield. 4. Katie Mielock (left) and Pat Simon of Birmingham. 5. Mary Cafferty (left) & Allen Wall of Bloomfield, Don Huldin of Beverly Hills. 6. Barbara Brazier (left) of Clarkston, Janet Morelli and Diane Grembi of Rochester.

7. Frank Morelli (left) and Derick Grembi of Rochester.

7

Karmanos Cancer Institute Annual Partners Night

2

1

3

4

1. Cheryl Daskas (left), Michelle Mio and Andi Rehm of Birmingham, Jennifer Lasco of Fenton. 2. Nick (left) & Julie Karmanos of Bloomfield, John and Sophie Balardo of Birmingham. 3. Norman (left) and Chris Yatooma of Bloomfield.

4. Jay Farner of Bloomfield.

DOWNTOWN

69

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK generous donation from philanthropist/pediatric psychotherapist Jo Elyn Nyman. It will allow Hospice of Michigan to offer free care to terminally ill children and support programs for their families across Michigan. Her gift was made possible by her parents’ foundation – the Samuel and Jean Frankel Foundation. Raffle drawings and the afterglow concluded the evening of urban elegance that raised about $80,000 for HOM. It provides care during “the journey no one wants to take” regardless of patients’ ability to pay.

Hospice of Michigan Crystal Rose Ball

1

2

4

3

6

5

8

7

9

1. Dottie Deremo (center) of Farmington Hills, Judy & Lee Gardner of Birmingham. 2. Anne LaBrecque (left) of Rochester and Kim Palmer of Rochester Hills with Maggie Palmer Janisse of Berkley. 3. Jim Palmer (left) of Rochester Hills and Peter Remington of Birmingham. 4. Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. 5. Larry (left) & Linda Juracek-Lipa of Birmingham with Bob Allesee of Bloomfield. 6. Detroit First Lady Lori Maher Duggan (left) with Christine Provost of Birmingham and Janet Kavanaugh and Judy Anderson of Bloomfield. 7. Justin Hiller (center) of Bloomfield with Fabienne Potestivo (left) of Addison Twp. and Theresa Yoder of Plymouth. 8. Jari and Steve Auger of Lake Orion, Peggy Daitch of Birmingham. 9. Ed & Sylvia Hagenlocker of Bloomfield.

10. Mike (left) & Diane Vick and Terri & Steve Eick of Birmingham.

10

Pink Fund Dancing With The Survivors®

1

4

2

5

3

6

7

1. Sabrina Mayhew (left) of Birmingham, Molly MacDonald of Beverly Hills, Sheri Mark of Bloomfield. 2. Lynn Gillow (left) of Birmingham, Patrice Ladd of W. Bloomfield, Julie Martin of Royal Oak and Cheryl Perkins of Bloomfield. 3. Susanne Forbes Dicker of Troy, Katana Abbot (left) of Commerce and Stephanie Caponigro of Bloomfield Hills. 4. Kristin Howard of Farmington and Lisa Swiftney of Auburn Hills. 5. Laura Segal (left) of Franklin and Carol Segal Ziecik of Bloomfield.

6. Dr. Samson Kpadenou (left) of Troy and Kathy Martin of Rochester. 7. Manouchehr & Brenda Kambakhsh of Oakland (Photos: Laurie Tennent).

70

DOWNTOWN

Pink Fund Dancing With The Survivors® Nearly 400 supporters of Molly MacDonald’s Pink Fund flocked to the Shriners Silver Garden Event Center in Southfield for the Michigan Dancing with the Survivors®.

It was one of seven events in six states held on the same date presented by the Celgene company whose Tia Dowdell was in the Southfield crowd. After perusing the raffle auction and savoring a small plates supper, guests settled in for the program emceed by WXYZ-TV health reporter Dr. Partha Nandi. The Michigan dancers all trained for the exhibition at Evan and Lada Mountain’s Bloomfield Hills Fred Astaire Studio. They included Lori Baran, Kathleen Galligan, Gretchen Geist, Brenda Kambakhsh, Kristy Lynch, Kathy Martin, sisters Laura Segal and Carol Ziecik and Ty Weaver. MacDonald, breast cancer survivor and founder of The Pink Fund, introduced the eight performances, all preceded by a video of the survivors’ inspiring accounts of their breast cancer journeys. Following the show, MacDonald presented each survivor with a pink crystal heart. Ticket sales, donor contributions, sponsor support and raffle tickets combined to raise approximately $100,000. It will be used to provide 90 days of non-medical financial support to Michigan breast cancer patients in active treatment.

Detroit International Wine Auction GM President Daniel and Pernilla Ammann chaired The Art of Wine - the 34th annual Detroit International Wine auction. It attracted 550 College for Creative Studies boosters ($1,000 & up ticket) to City Airport Hangar One where 1950s-style airline stewardesses directed them into the festivities. Some 300 benefactors ($2,500 & up ticket) arrived early for the Jackson Family Wines exclusive Vintner’s Private Reception sponsored by Strategic Staffing Solutions before joining the hoi polloi to peruse the auction of juried alumni art. The five-course dinner, catered by Forte Belanger and sponsored by Suburban Collection / Jennifer & David Fischer, and spirited live auction (two auction bidders each paid $100,000 for a dinner party with the Ammanns at the historic Fisher Family Mansion they recently purchased) were topped by two announcements. Daniel Ammann announced GM Foundation’s gift of $1.25 million to support CCS’s MFA programs. CCS CEO Rick Rogers announced that GM gave CCS the $500,000 from the sale of the number one Production 2016 Corvette CZR C06 which sold in September at a Barrett Jackson auction. But nothing could top the energy level Grammy Award-winning hip hop artists Macklemore & Ryan Lewis generated with their special performance. The $796,000 raised by the centerpiece sales and the auctions brought the event total to a record setting $3 million.

MOT Opera Ball Gala People who know Joanne Danto and Maggie Allesee know how passionate both are about dance as an art form. Therefore, since Danto was chairing the 2015 Opera 12.15

Ball which would recognize Allesee’s legendary Michigan Opera Theatre support, the dinner program just must include dance as well as opera. Kudos to whomever secured American Ballet Theatre stars Misty Copeland and Gabe Stone to dance a pas de deux during the dinner program. The 360 guests ($750 & up) at dinner tables and the 250 Young Patrons ($100) up in the boxes, gave them a rousing standing ovation.

Likewise, Allesee, when MOT founder Dr. David DiChiera, his successor CEO Wayne Brown, and Danto presented her the Lifetime Achievement Award. The grandly opulent event, which celebrated the Detroit Opera House’s 20th year and MOT’s 45th year, also featured a superb dinner by Forte Belanger, a silent auction (mobile device bidding) of 15 splendid items ($50,570), and dancing until midnight to music by Bluewater Kings Band. The ball enjoyed generous support and raised nearly $700,000.

DSO Red Carpet Dinner It has been many years since the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Volunteer Council has staged an event to open the season. But reviving the Opening Weekend Red Carpet Dinner was an idea whose time had come.

Approximately 100 DSO loyalists attended ($175 - $500 ticket) the dinner chaired by Debra Patrich and Deborah Savoie. Spotted in the crowd were symphony board members like Phillip Fisher, Bernard Robertson, Ric DeVore and Jim Nicholson with their wives. They paused on the red carpet for a souvenir photo taken by photographer John Stewart before they sampled hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine. A splendid three-course plated dinner catered by Forte Belanger followed. During dinner served in the Music Box at the “MAX,” DSO music director/conductor Leonard Slatkin made the rounds of each table for friendly schmoozing.

Guests picked up their souvenir photo en route into Orchestra Hall for the concert featuring Slatkin and French piano sensation Jean-Yves Thibaudet. The VC plans to repeat the event next year.

MOCAD 2015 Gala + Art More than 100 art aficionadas ($1,000 – ticket) convened at the museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) for the annual Gala + Art Auction. They cocktailed, surrounded by the donated art that was selected by Jens Hoffman and director Elysia BorowyReeder. Board president Marsha Miro, co-chair Elyse Foltyn and Borowy-Reeder welcomed all and paid tribute to the honorary chairs, Maggie and Bob Allesee who announced their support for MOCAD’s new special education project. The 143 art lots, which were also available for online bidding, all sold. When the auction closed at 9:30 p.m. it had raised nearly $250,000 of the event total (nearly $350,000). This represents more than 25 per cent of the museum’s annual operating budget. Colorful table décor and the Cutting Edge Cuisine dinner menu suggested the museum’s current (until Jan. 3, 2016) major exhibition “United States of Latin America,” as did the tropical after party that attracted nearly 300 ($15, $60, $100 – tickets) to dance to music by Coconut Babylon until 2 a.m. The next MOCAD Gala + Art Auction is Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.

CARE Night Gala The 13th annual CARE Night Charity Ball was chaired by Dr. Susan Ivanovic, Lisa MacDonald and Amber Stack, with Pam Mannion in charge of downtownpublications.com

MOT Opera Ball Gala

2

1

4

3

6

5 1. Arnie Weingarden (left) & Joanne Danto of Birmingham, Maggie & Bob Allesee of Bloomfield. 2. Jeff (left) & Amy Messano of Birmingham, Rick & Karen Williams of Bloomfield. 3. Frank Ritchie of Troy, Maryann Cromwell of Bloomfield. 4. Barbara (left) & Larry Spence and Ted & Diana Golden of Bloomfield. 5. Cynthia Johnson (left), Charli Podowski, Maureen & Jerry D’Avanzo of Bloomfield. 6. Lori (left) & Larry Papp and Fair Radom of Bloomfield. 7. Diane Schoenith (left) of Grosse Pointe, Patty Finnegan Sharf of Bloomfield. 8. Barbara Frankel & Ron Michalak of W. Bloomfield, MOT’s Margarite Fourcroy of Bloomfield and her daughter Isabella Howes of Washington, D.C.. 9. Til Klem and Patrick Jakeway of Bloomfield.

10. Katie (left) & Gordy Coleman and Angelo & Lauren Buttazzoni of Bloomfield.

7

9

8

10

DSO Red Carpet Dinner

1

2

3

4

1. Deborah Savoie (left) of Bloomfield, Mary Beattie of Beverly Hills. 2. Maestro Leonard Slatkin of Bloomfield with Ann Nicholson (left) and Lauri Hogle of Grosse Pointe. 3. Ellie Tholen of Birmingham, Phillip Fisher of Bloomfield. 4. Ellie and Bernard Robertson of Bloomfield.

MOCAD 2015 Gala + Art

1

2

3

1. Elysia Borowy-Reeder (left) of Detroit, Maggie Allesee and board president Marsha Miro of Bloomfield. 2. Steve (left) & Jill Miller of Birmingham, Jessie Beld-Elliott & Ed Welburn of Bloomfield. 3. Scott Jacobson (left) and David Foltyn of Birmingham.

DOWNTOWN

71

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK entertainment. It attracted 300 people ($250, $500, $1,000 – tickets) to the Townsend Hotel. Following cocktails, all dined at tables centered with glass-blown sculpture art by April Wagner (Epiphany Studios). The program was emceed by Fox 2’s Monica Gayle and honored retired CPA Bill Matthews for his devoted support of children’s causes. Guests, including a contingent from the one of the CARE House founders – the Junior League of Birmingham - also applauded songs by the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and a set from stand-up comic Pete Holmes, who has recently signed to do an HBO comedy pilot. Thanks also to generous sponsors like GM, Taubman and the Trott Foundation, the evening raised $370,000 for the free services CARE House provides to victims of child abuse. These include forensic interviews, individual and group therapy; advocacy for children in foster care; in-home educational visits for at-risk families; and a variety of trainings focused on child abuse prevention.

CARE Night Gala

1

3

2

5

4

1. Congressman Dave Trott (left) and Mike Dietz of Birmingham. 2. Garry (left) & Brier Neel of Birmingham, Monica Gayle & Dean Greve of W. Bloomfield. 3. Lisa Payne of Bloomfield. 4. Judy (left), Ken; Peggy & Bill Matthews of W. Bloomfield; judge Cheryl Matthews & Brad Conkey. 5. Dennis Mannion of Birmingham. 6. Sandy & Lexy Stone of Birmingham; Lori & Marty Knollenberg of Troy.

6

DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast

2

1

3

1. Karla Sherry (center) of Bloomfield, Matt Anstett (left) and Brad Stanwick of Pleasant Ridge. 2. Denise Abrash (left), Francie Oehrlein and Jim Hayes of Bloomfield. 3. Sandra Moers (left) and Marlynn Barnes of Bloomfield, Marjorie Saulson of Franklin, Barbara Frankel of W. Bloomfield. 4. Walt Oehrlein (left) of Bloomfield, Cynthia & Dom Schiano of Franklin. 5. Matt Desmond (left) of Ferndale, Michelle Anstett of Bloomfield.

4

St. Regis Catholic School Cowabunga

2

1 72

3

4

1. Melissa (back) & William Stewart of Bloomfield with their children Patrick and Emily. 2. Msgr. Chuck Kosanke of Bloomfield and event chair Janae Condit of Beverly Hills. 3. Joni Kase of Troy and Margie Adams of Bloomfield Hills. 4. Grace Callaghan (right) of Beverly Hills, Kim and Kate Frye of Bloomfield.

DOWNTOWN

DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast “(DSO musicians) are the kindest, friendliest most generous musicians on the planet,” declared Marjorie Saulson. And she should know. As a past president of the DSO Volunteer Council, she frequently compared notes with other symphonies’ supporters at national meetings. She was speaking to the 40 guests ($125 ticket) gathered in the party tent at Karla Sherry’s home for Oktoberfest, one of 18 popular Musical Feasts on the council’s 28th annual schedule of intimate fundraisers chaired by Magda Moss. They had just spontaneously clapped to polkas, Sousa marches and sang “Roll Out the Barrel” as the five DSO brass players performed. Sherry co-hosted the very informal soiree with Matt Anstett and Brad Stanwick. It was complete with a variety of grilled German sausages, sauerkraut, warm pretzels and German wines and beers, of course.

St. Regis Catholic School Cowabunga St. Regis mom Janae Condit had heard her in-laws, who live in Montana, describe their school’s family fun day event and “…thought it would be hilarious to bring it to Bloomfield Hills,” she said. More than 500 school boosters of all ages attended the country western theme festivities on a sunny October Saturday. From 1–7 p.m. they relished live music by the Tucky Taylor country band, Motor City Franks, The Smoker BBQ, tacos, beer and wine (cash bar), Treat Dreams, tug-owar, a caricaturist, relay races and other outdoor games. But the game of chance that gives the event its name was “Dollars for Dung.” The game featured a live cow (Kit Kat from Oakland County 4H) and numbers spray painted in squares on the playground. Guests paid $25 to buy a numbered square. They were betting on which number Kit Kat would drop her first cow pie.

Kit Kat’s owner walked her around the squares. Every time she mooed, kids cheered, chanted her name and told her to do her business. After about an hour of the hilarity, she dropped a cow pie. It was on the number held by Penny Kennedy, who won the $2,500 prize.

Cowabunga netted a whole lot of family fun and $11,000 the school.

Wright Gala 50th Anniversary Celebration A sold-out throng of 1,100 attended the 50th anniversary of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The reception featured a silent auction of art by Chevrolet designers, bountiful hors d’oeuvres and beautiful gowns. Many of the 12.15

women’s dress selections had been influenced by the Wright’s current exhibition – “Inspiring Beauty: 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair.” It’s a splendiferous retrospective of the charity fashion spectacular that redefined the concepts of beauty and empowerment for African Americans. The fair began in 1958. Over the next 50 years the traveling fashion show of iconic designs from such talents as Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint-Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro raised millions for charity and helped Ebony’s Johnson Publishing Company reach its audience. The must-see exhibit will be at the Wright through January 3, 2016. Johnson Publishing executives from Chicago were in the gala crowd, along with Rev. Jesse Jackson (for the invocation gig).

Actor/director Blair Underwood chatted up museum members in a lounge hosted by Ford Motor Company before everybody retreated to the ballroom for dinner. Of all the speakers, 93-year-old Judge Damon Keith spoke most knowingly of the museum’s journey. Its founder was his good friend and its precarious funding history has been his personal challenge. Event chair GM’s Vivian Pickard, wearing a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown, was the speaker most reflective of the Fashion Fair exhibit. Both said it was important “…to keep Dr. Wright’s vision alive for the next fifty years.” The gala committee surely did its part. The silent and live auctions raised $155,000 and the elegant event grossed $1.8 million.

Wright Gala 50th Anniversary Celebration

2

1

4

3 Belle Isle Conservancy’s Legacy Luncheon More than 450 civic and business leaders and Belle Isle supporters gathered for the 11th annual Polish the Jewel Belle Isle Legacy Luncheon at the island’s casino. Presented by DTE Energy Foundation, the luncheon featured countless fabulous hats, lots of schmoozing, a silent auction ($15,000) and a recognition program emceed by WDIV’s Rhonda Walker. It honored Ruth Roby Glancy, DTE Energy and The Kresge Foundation for their substantial support of the Belle Isle Conservancy and its island improvement initiatives. Michele Hodges, president of the Belle Isle Conservancy, noted that Polish the Jewel has raised more than $2.5 million supporting such renovation projects as a comfort station and other enhancements at Sunset Point, a historical reconstruction of the horse stable roof and restoration of several picnic shelters around the island. The 2015 event added more than $150,000 to that total. It is earmarked for a children’s discovery playground.

Sponsors for the 2015 Polish the Jewel Belle Isle Legacy Luncheon included DTE Energy Foundation, MASCO Corporation Foundation, Sarah and Tony Earley, Ford Motor Company Fund, KPMG, Lear Corporation, Ruth Roby Glancy, Detroit Yacht Club, Edsel & Eleanor Ford House and the Henry Ford Estate, Federal-Mogul, Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health System, MassMutual, Miller Canfield and PNC Bank. The Belle Isle Conservancy‘s mission is to protect, preserve, restore and enhance the natural environment, historic structures and unique character of Belle Isle as a public park for the enjoyment of all – now and forever.

Women of Tomorrow Kick Off Beth Ann Bayus, Kristina Djokic, Mary Martin and Karen Sanford coordinated the Women of Tomorrow annual Kick Off event that attracted 75 to Birmingham’s The Bird & Bread. Guests included Detroit directors Laurie Cunnington, Dianne Wells, Judith Trepeck and vice chair Ellen Hill Zeringue. Noting that the mentoring and scholarship program, which has been in Detroit since 2011 and has 150 mentors serving approximately 1,110 at-risk girls in 54 Metro Detroit public high schools, graduated its first class in 2014 and has since been key to more than $630,000 in college scholarships, Zeringue assured the assembled that “…we are truly making a difference.” Women of Tomorrow graduate/scholarship recipient Elisabeth Andrews confirmed Zeringue’s declaration when she spoke about the program’s impact on her life. Women of achievement who are interested in becoming a mentor may call 248.430.4095 for information. To learn more about the program Detroit-area native Jennifer Valoppi founded in 1997 in Miami, go to womenoftomorrow.org.

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

6

5

8

7

1. Vivian Pickard of Bloomfield. 2. Roy (left) & Maureen Roberts of Bloomfield, Ed Dwight of Denver, CO and Jan Cosby Bridges of Farmington Hills. 3. Yousif Ghafari (right) of Bloomfield, his son Peter of Detroit. 4. Linda Gillum (left), Devin Burks and her mother Suzanne Werdlow of Bloomfield.

5. Myra Moreland (left), Josh & Laynie Moreland Bryant of Birmingham. 6. Jim & Patti Prowse of Bloomfield. 7. Peter Remington & Peggy Daitch of Birmingham, Mary Ann & Gene Gargaro of Grosse Pointe. 8. Don Manvel of Birmingham, Gale Hill of Columbus, OH. 9. Lori (left) & Greg Wingerter of Rochester, Tom & Karen Nicklin of Clarkston.

9

Belle Isle Conservancy’s Legacy Luncheon

1

2

5

4

3

6

1. Sarah Earley (left) of Bloomfield and San Francisco, CA, Dr. Shauna Ryder Diggs of Grosse Pointe and Heather Paquette of Bloomfield. 2. Judie Sherman (left) of Bloomfield, Ruth Roby Glancy, Marlene Boll, and Darrene Baer of Grosse Pointe. 3. Marilyn Way (left), Charli Podowski and Dawn Rassel of Bloomfield.

4. Jillian Nathan (left) of Birmingham, Lidija Grahovic of Bloomfield. 5. Sandi Pape (left) of Bloomfield, Heather Pape of Rochester Hills and Susan Ryan of Clarkston. 6. Noreen Keating (left) of Auburn Hills, Betty Desmond of Bloomfield, Pat Rosen of Troy.

DOWNTOWN

73

ENDNOTE

The crumb rubber artificial turf fiasco majority of local public and private schools we spoke with while writing a story for this issue on the safety of crumb rubber artificial turf athletic fields acknowledged they had installed the fields after only looking at improved maintenance costs, not considering whether there could be health costs to the student athletes.

Crumb rubber turf is a form of synthetic turf field which utilizes about 40,000 tires which are crumbled up to fill in between artificial strands of grass.

The fact is that no one seems to know whether these athletic fields are actually a “good buy” – because no one knows if they are safe over the long run for students to be playing on.

A New York state environmental conservation study found a lot of artificial turf fields contain carcinogens at levels that exceed health-based soil standards. “If it was on publicly held land, the state would remove the contaminated soil and replace it with non-contaminated soil,” said Nick Leonard of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center (GLELC), affiliated with Wayne State University.

Artificial turf “is made up, at least in part, of a lot of toxic substances,” including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium, all of which are commonly found in crumb rubber. Leonard said they “have been described as systemic toxicants that are known to induce severe adverse health effects, even at lower levels of exposure.”

A soccer coach for the University of Washington women’s team compiled a list of athletes who have developed cancer, with evidence of 38 cases of

A

cancer among soccer players, 34 of which played the position of goalkeeper.

Various levels of authority assume the safety of crumb rubber used in the fields is a non-issue, or place the responsibility of investigation on different governing bodies. “We, in Michigan, have not researched it. We basically rely on the EPA and the industry to put together standards for those materials,” acknowledged Rhonda Oyer, acting chief of solid waste for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

That's frightening. When contacted, federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assumed states were monitoring this. State agencies, including the MDEQ and the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), said they thought locals should be viewing studies on crumb rubber fields. Local schools don't have the ability nor the resources to conduct research, and have relied upon state experts. The fact is, no one knows who's on first.

This cycle of passing the buck of responsibility must stop.

The MHSAA stated this turf is preferable for tournaments, because it holds up better in rain and snow. Instead of worrying about tournaments, the MHSAA should take a leadership role, working with other states as they did on concussions, helmet rules and goggles for women's lacrosse players, and develop rules and standards on how best to protect student athletes as they compete in their sport and represent their school.

Frankly, we found the position of the MHSAA deplorable – basically suggesting that it is up to local schools to do the research and make the determination. Who are local school districts to turn to but the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which should be concerned about more than just scheduling tournaments?

Shame too, on the EPA and MDEQ. While recycling is commendable, recycling tires into a potential public health hazard is no more desirable than recycling asbestos. It is illegal to dump a whole tire in a landfill; they are extremely toxic to air quality when burning.

One of the questions posed this October by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to the EPA stated, “What does the Agency know about the incidence (percentage of population by sex and age level) of cancers in the general population? To the best of your knowledge, is the incidence for persons who play on fields treated with crumb rubber higher than in the general population?”

In response, the EPA acknowledged, “The existing studies do not comprehensively address the recently raised concerns about children’s health risks from exposure to tire crumb.”

The time is long overdue for definitive research and in-depth studies on crumb rubber turf fields at the state and national levels to see if this artificial turf is really worth it for local school athletic fields when weighed against potential threats to the health of student athletes.

Update state sex offender registry law t's not often that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and conservative Republican members of the state legislature agree on the same issue, but they, as do we, believe it is time for the state's Sex Offender Registry Act to be amended.

The act, created in 1994 by then-state Sen. (now Oakland County Sheriff) Michael Bouchard, requires nearly 31,000 individuals, including about 1,800 in Oakland County, convicted of certain sex crimes to register identifying information with the state's online public sex offender registry. That includes offender names, addresses, photos, vehicle information and other information, which must be reported to law enforcement agencies up to four times a year. The law also restricts all offenders from residing, working or loitering in certain areas dubbed "student safety zones," or within 1,000 feet of a school. Since its enactment, there has been greater public awareness of those in our midst who have offended, why, and where they live. But more now needs to be done to develop consistency for law enforcement.

Critics of the online registry claim the list unfairly punishes registrants, those who have completed

I

criminal sentences, because of restrictions and the fact their information is available to the public, which can cause some to have difficulty finding employment, adequate housing and successfully reintegrating into society. We don't doubt that. But we believe the availability of factual reporting on the registry serves the public good.

Beyond the information listed on the state's public sex offender registry, there are areas where the state's law needs improvement, both relating to the reporting requirements of identifying information, as well as some restrictions on offenders.

A March 31 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland found that portions of the state's sex offender law were so confusing that it made it difficult for well-intentioned registrants to understand and meet all of their obligations under the law. Further, the court found that some portions of the state's law are unconstitutional because registrants have no way to know where the "student safety zones" are actually located.

While we typically feel ignorance isn't a valid defense for breaking the law, evidence exists that

law enforcement agencies, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and even the courts are unable to determine exactly where such student safety zones begin or end. Such a system can create a trap for registrants making a concerted effort to abide by the law.

Legislation introduced in the state Senate addresses this issue by clarifying the requirements.

The proposed amendment, SB 581, would also better define "loitering," under the law, and allow for offenders with children to participate in parental activities at schools. The bill will also eliminate immediate reporting of certain information, which the court finds to be problematic.

The ACLU and others say the changes are a good start to addressing the federal issues, and would add some clarification to the law. We agree.

We also feel it's worth noting that no matter how comprehensive or carefully crafted a sex offender registry law, it's important to remember that many sex offenses are committed by people known to the victim. While checking the registry may provide a sense of security, it shouldn't be a replacement for recognizing red flags or safe practices.

> <UP]LYZP[` +Y ŕ Ž 9VJOLZ[LY 40 ŕ Ž B D ŕ Ž ^^^ YVJOLZ[LYHK]HUJLKKLU[PZ[Y` JVT

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU. WHETHER ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A FAMILIAR FACE OR A NEW ONE, OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP.

Marco L.Tironi D.D.S. Katie 9 years Rita 20 years Cristina 2 years

Kurt A. Doolin D.D.S. Val 24 years Rachael 14 years Liz 3 years

1LŃ&#x153;YL` : /HKKHK + + S. Susan 16 years Leanna 3 years Danielle 4 years

BETH WATSON REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST | LONG TIME ROCHESTER RESIDENT

Beth’s listings Sold for an average of 99.92% of asking price compared to Southeast MI average of 96.35% T

AC

R NT

R DE

CO

UN

RochesteR - $629,900

• Top 5% of the Industry • Featured as top producing agent in Hour, dbusiness and Detroit Home • Named "Real Estate All Star" by Hour Detroit 2013, 2014, 2015 •16 Years of sales and marketing LD

SO

RochesteR - $389,900 sold FoR Full Asking PRice

cAll Me FoR A conFidentiAl ReAl estAte consultAtion

bwatson@signaturesothebys.com

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

248.342.9268