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151 Martin, P.O. Box 3001
Birmingham, MI 48012
Ph. 248.530.1800
Fax 248.530.1080
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Welcome to the May 2015 edition of the Around Town e-Newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you enjoy this e-newsletter and forward it along to others who may be interested in the City of Birmingham!
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VOTE on Election Day - May 5th
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Attend the May 7 Meeting Re. Maple Road Resurfacing Project
The City of Birmingham plans to resurface W. Maple Rd. from Cranbrook Rd. to Southfield Rd. in 2016. The W. Maple Rd. Steering Committee voted in favor of recommending a modified cross-section for W. Maple Rd. from east of Cranbrook Rd. to Chester St. that included a three lane configuration with two through lanes and one continuous left turn lane. The Multi-Modal Transportation Board will be reviewing this recommendation at their meeting of Thursday, May 7, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Commission Room at the Municipal Building, 151 Martin St. Download a press release for more information.
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Valet Parking Continues thru May 30
Park easy with convenient valet parking in Birmingham! The service, provided by In-House Valet, is offered Thursdays through Saturdays now through May 30.
Shoppers may drop their vehicles off for just $4 in two convenient locations: Henrietta at West Maple (next to Roots), and Old Woodward at Hamilton Row (in front of Comerica Bank). As an added convenience, shoppers may call the valet service before they pick up their vehicle to ensure it is ready when they return to the valet stand. For more information, call the Birmingham Principal Shopping District at (248) 530-1200.
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City Vehicles to Explore, Giveaways and Lunch at Birmingham's DPS Open House Saturday, May 9, 2015, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The 23rd annual DPS Open House will bring the
community together for a day full of family-friendly activities for those of all ages to enjoy. In collaboration with the fire department and police department, the open house will offer attendees the opportunity to discover and experience the day-to-day operations of the public services office through interactive displays and activities. All attendees will enjoy a complimentary lunch (hot dogs, refreshments and ice cream); children will receive free "hard hats" and have an opportunity to climb on and explore municipal vehicles, including fire trucks, plow trucks, vactors and more. For more information, call the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.
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Enjoy a Night Out at Springdale Golf Course 'Nine & Dine' Event
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Experience the Birmingham Hometown Parade
Sunday, May 17th, 1:00 PM
The Birmingham Hometown Parade is a long standing tradition in this great community. We are inviting you, your family, and friends to join us in celebrating Birmingham!
If you have never been to the parade, come out and enjoy the festivities of the day! Experience the excitement of the crowd as the tall unicycles ride past, the giggles from the children as the clowns wave hello, and the pride of the entire community as our country's brave veterans march past.
After the parade, join us in Shain Park for a tribute to the veterans, lively music, and lots of free activities for the kids. Park activities will continue until 4:00 PM.
Additional information can be found at www.bhamgov.org/parade.
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Attend the 2015 Birmingham Ice Show - May 15, 16 & 17
Plan to attend our "B" "Live From The Red Carpet!" 2015 Ice Show slated for Friday, May 15 at 7:00 pm, Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, May 17 at 2:00 pm.
Tickets are on sale at the main office at the Birmingham Ice Arena, located at 2300 East Lincoln, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, and at the Concession Stand after main office hours. Cash or Check only. Checks payable to the City of Birmingham. Call (248) 530-1640 for details.
General Admission Seating:
Adult: Advance Ticket: $13 At the door: $15
Student 13-18: Advance Ticket: $10 At the door: $12
Children 3-12: Advance Ticket: $8 At the door: $10
Children under age 3 sitting on lap: Free
All seating will be general admission
Arriving late for the ice show does not reduce the price of the admission ticket.
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SHOP: Birmingham Farmers Market Open Sundays, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Find beautiful floral arrangements for Mother's Day at the Birmingham Farmers Market! The market welcomes thousands of shoppers each week and features hanging baskets, flats, potted plants, early produce (late May), delicious prepared foods, garden accessories, home decor, live entertainment and children's craft activities. The lively market is open Sundays through October 18, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Parking Lot #6 (located at N. Old Woodward and Harmon). For more information about the 2015 Birmingham Farmers Market season, visit
www.birminghamfarmersmarket.org.
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DINE: Birmingham Welcomes New Restaurant
Add the Triple Nickel (located at 555 South Old Woodward) to the list of restaurants to choose from when selecting your next dining spot in Birmingham! The American-style restaurant and bar's goal is to offer great service from a pleasant staff in a festive casual atmosphere, all at a reasonable price. Their menu features unique salads, seafood, steak, burgers and more. Whether your budget is big or small, this restaurant has something for everyone. Learn more at www.thetriplenickel.com or call (248) 480-4951.
Stop by and support our new restaurant!
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PLAY: Discover Poppleton Park
Have you visited Birmingham's Poppleton Park? It's nestled in a residential area in the northern portion of the city, east of Woodward Avenue. The 17.18 acre park is accessible from Oxford and Rivenoak Roads, both of which are residential streets. The beautiful park features playground equipment, picnic tables, open space, a softball field and two tennis courts. Stop by soon and experience Poppleton Park!
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Birmingham Memorial Day Service - May 25 at 10 a.m.
The City of Birmingham will host its annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Shain Park. The patriotic program includes addresses of historical interest, popular songs, wreath laying at the monuments and live music provided by Birmingham's Straw Hat Band. Reenactors from the 180th Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, will help the service observe the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Friends of the Birmingham Historical Society will mark the occasion with a special presentation and at 11:30 a.m. will conduct a tour of historic Greenwood Cemetery with emphasis on local heroes who served our country during the Second World War. Family attendance is welcomed and veterans' participation is encouraged.
For more information, contact Bruce Miller at (248) 258-9007 or [email protected].
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Fire Hydrant Flow Testing throughout May
To ensure hydrants are operable and give the proper water flow when needed, the Birmingham Fire Department conducts annual flow testing in May of each year. This testing provides the Department with the flow pressure and volume of water that is expected from each hydrant. Additionally, it reveals hydrants with mechanical problems.
What to do if Your Water is Discolored
Unfortunately, flow testing may cause the water in the immediate test area to appear rust colored. Please be informed of the following facts:
- This condition does not pose a health problem.
- Normal running of cold water in your home for 15-20 minutes will soon clear up the problem. Do not use hot water. This will prevent rusty water from entering the tank.
- If water does not clear after 15-20 minutes, contact the Fire Department at 248-530-1906.
- If the rusty water affects your laundry, you may purchase oxalic acid, or commercial products for taking rust out of clothes, from local drug or hardware stores. The clothes can be re-washed, following instructions, and the rust will be removed.
- The Fire Department conducts the flow test Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. They do not flow on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
The following map shows the 2015 section of the city where flow testing will occur throughout May:
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Support the Birmingham Fireworks Display
If you enjoy the annual Birmingham Fireworks display at Lincoln Hills Golf Course, please consider showing your support by making a contribution toward the 2015 display. Event a small contribution helps! This year's Birmingham Fireworks are scheduled for Friday, July 3. Please note the rain date will be Sunday, July 5.
If you would like to make a contribution for the fireworks display, donations can be sent to: City of Birmingham Treasurer's Office, 151 Martin, Birmingham, MI 48009. Please write "Fireworks Donation" in the memo line.
Mark your calendar for this family event and thank you for your support!
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Benefits of Rain Gardens
 A rain garden is a depression in the landscape, usually planted in the low spot of a residential property, designed to trap, absorb, and filter storm water runoff and improve overall water quality. Although rain gardens have a wide variety of applications in commercial and even industrial landscaping design, home owners will greatly benefit from the environmental and aesthetic qualities rain gardens provide.
In a rain garden, plants and soils filter storm water naturally, removing nutrients and other pollutants (sediment, heavy metals, etc. from adjacent paved or "hard" surfaces) prior to discharging to a nearby water body. A functioning rain garden should be dry after 48 hours which indicates proper drainage and reduces the amount of insects that surround standing water.
Native plants (indigenous to the Midwest region) offer many advantages in a rain garden. Typically, native plants require less water and fertilizer than non-native species - and many are naturally resistant to pests. Native plants create small ecosystems, attracting birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. The soil mix for the rain garden blends compost, masonry sand, and topsoil. The compost is an essential ingredient, since it absorbs water and breaks down pollutants which may be in the runoff.
For more information and instructional videos on rain gardens, please visit the Southern Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA) at www.socwa.org.
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Museum Exhibit Features Native American Cultural Rarity 
The Birmingham Historical Museum & Park has a new display devoted to a little known aspect of local Native American history: Indian trail marker trees. These hand-shaped trees served as road signs for hundreds of years before European settlement. They were essential in navigating the system of foot trails used by tribes in seasonal migrations, inter-tribal trade, and warfare. The bent trees marked abrupt changes in the trail when it was obscured by snow or flooded by spring rains (see  the photo at right courtesy of the Royal Oak Historical Society). The Saginaw Indian Trail stretched from Detroit to Flint, then via Saginaw to Mackinac. When early settlers came here, they used this well worn trail to make their way through Oakland County. Today, we know it as Woodward Avenue.
Stop by the museum to see this and other aspects of the history of Woodward. The Birmingham Historical Museum is located at 556 West Maple. Exhibit hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission prices are as follows: Adults, $7; Seniors & students, $5; Kids 5 & under and members, free! The museum is open until 8 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. For more information, call (248) 530-1928 or visit www.bhamgov.org/museum.
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May News from the Baldwin Library
Michigan Notable Author Visit: Sean Madigan Hoen, author of Songs Only You Know
Sunday, May 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Join us for a reading and talk with Sean Madigan Hoen, author of the acclaimed memoir Songs Only You Know about his struggle to keep his involvement in Detroit's hardcore punk scene a secret, when he learned that his father, too, had a second life - as a crack addict. Kirkus Reviews calls his book, "A dark, knowing look at addiction, rock'n'roll, and the ties that bind."  Baldwin in Stitches
Thursday, May 14 - Monday, June 1 Baldwin patrons (tweens, teens, and adults) have been working hard since March, and it's time to exhibit their work! Tour the Library anytime between May 14 and June 1 to experience the magic of Harry Potter. Snakes, banners, spiders, snitches, and more, cleverly crafted with yarn, will be exhibited throughout the Library.
The Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street in Birmingham. Find more information at www.baldwinlib.org or call (248) 647-1700.
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Thank you for reading Around Town, a monthly e-newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you find the information timely and useful. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to friends and neighbors who may be interested in Birmingham.
Sincerely,
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