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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 June 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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Commissioners Approve W. Maple Trial Period
On Monday, June 1, the Birmingham City Commission approved recommendations from the Multi-Modal Transportation Board to create a modified cross-section for W. Maple Rd. from east of Cranbrook Rd. to Southfield that includes a three lane configuration with two through lanes and one continuous left turn lane. The changes will be made for an undetermined trial period beginning in August or September. For more information, contact the City's Planning Department at (248) 530-1850.
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Help the Rouge River during June 6 Clean-Up Day
The annual Rouge River Clean-Up will be held in Linden Park on Saturday, June 6 from 9:00 am to noon. Registration begins at 8:30 am. Contact Parks & Recreation for additional information at 248.530.1640.
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Movies & Concerts Coming to Birmingham's Parks
June marks the beginning of Movie Nights in Booth Park and In the Park Summer Concerts in Shain Park! Mark you calendar for these June events:
Outdoor Movies and Entertainment in Booth Park 
Enjoy a movie under the stars and pre-show entertainment that's carefully selected to appeal to children and adults alike. In addition to the award-winning play equipment at Booth Park, attendees will enjoy free pre-show activities at 7:30 p.m., followed by popular family movies at dusk. The first Movie Night of the summer will be on Friday, June 19. The featured presentation is The Lego Movie. In case of inclement weather, movies will be held at Seaholm High School Gymnasium. Monitor 'Enjoy Birmingham NOW' on Facebook for weather updates. Grab a blanket or lawn chair and head to Booth Park (located on the west side of North Old Woodward, just north of Harmon Street).
In the Park Summer Concerts in Shain Park
The In the Park Summer Concert series kicks off this month with the Battle of the Bands on June 12, followed by Birmingham Concert Band (Patriotic/Instrumental) on Wednesday, June 17 and "Byron Legends Alive" & Byron In Motion (music of legendary icons) on Wednesday, June 24. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. in Shain Park. Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music! The concert hotline is updated at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. In case of inclement weather, call 248.530.1650 to check on the status of a concert.
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Quarton Rd. at Chesterfield Ave. Construction Update
The contractor working at Quarton Road and Chesterfield Avenue is in the process of putting the finishing touches on the project. Shoulders and landscaping work are currently underway. Pavement markings, signs, and guard rail improvements are coming soon. The road should be returned to full operation sometime during the week of June 8. For more information, contact the City's Engineering Department at (248) 530-1840.
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Quarton Lake Water Lilies Treatment Update
The City of Birmingham has been issued a permit by the Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for performing aquatic nuisance plant control at Quarton Lake. Treatment of the water lilies at Quarton Lake is scheduled during the third week of June. Tri-County Aquatics, Inc. will be performing this work. They will be posting notices at and around the lake near the treatment areas before the work begins. A 24 hour water use restriction is recommended after the lake is treated. Keep an eye on www.bhamgov.org/quartonlake for the specific project date coming soon. For more information, contact the Department of Public Services 248.530.1700.
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Introducing the
STRAWBERRY SUNDAY 'CHEF CLASH' at the Birmingham Farmers Market
Join us for our second annual Strawberry Sunday event on Sunday, June 28 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Along with all things strawberry, WOMC will be in attendance and we will have chefs from Birmingham resta
urants competing in our Chef Clash. Chefs must include strawberries in their dish to go along with the event! DMC Children's Hospital will provide family-friendly activities throughout the event.
Attendees will enjoy strawberry jam, strawberry ice cream, special strawberry treats and a strawberry-themed children's craft.
In addition to lettuce, kale, rhubarb, asparagus and white onions, shoppers will find sugar peas, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, basil, beans, mushrooms, turnips, kale, early lettuce, green onions, sugar peas, radishes and spinach by the end of June.
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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SHOP & DINE: Birmingham Welcomes New Businesses
Naturepedic Organic Mattress Gallery - 746 East Maple Road. Naturepedic specializes in the design and manufacturing of quality organic mattresses for infants, toddlers, children and adults that promote natural and organic materials, a non-toxic design, fire-safety, and overall health & safety. For more information, call (248) 792-6042.
Cafe Succo - 600 North Old Woodward. Cafe Succo is a s
moothie and juice bar featuring cold pressed juices.
For more information, call
(248) 385-5705.
Stop by and support our new businesses!
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Golf with Dad this Father's Day - Refreshments on Us
 Spend time with your Dad by treating him to a round of golf on Father's Day, June 21. In honor of the special day, you'll enjoy complimentary donuts and coffee at both Lincoln Hills and Springdale Golf Courses from 6 a.m. - 11 a.m. Looking for the perfect Father's Day gift? A gift card to Birmingham's Golf Courses is sure to please! Find out details about the courses, leagues, lesson opportunities and more at www.golfbirmingham.org or call (248) 530-1670.
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PLAY: Discover Crestview Park
Have you visited Birmingham's Crestview Park? It's located near the southern border of Birmingham, north of Southlawn between Southfield and Shipman Roads. The 3.58 acre park features open space, playground equipment, two tennis courts and picnic tables. Stop by soon and experience Crestview Park!
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Family Fun at Birmingham Fireworks Show
View a spectacular Independence Day fireworks display at the Birmingham Fireworks Show. The annual festivities will take place at the Lincoln Hills Golf Course located at Lincoln and Cranbrook on Friday, July 3rd. The gates will open to the public at 7 p.m. with the show starting at dusk, around 10 p.m. If there is inclement weather, the show will take place on Sunday, July 5 at the same time.
This is a great family event with no sparklers or alcohol allowed. The show will consist of over 1,300 shells ranging in size and color. This includes a fantastic grand finale with over 500 shells being fired!
The Birmingham Fire Department is continuing to solicit donations for the 2015 Fireworks Display. Donations to support this year's show can be sent to:
City of Birmingham Treasurers' Office
151 Martin
Birmingham, MI 48009
Thank you for your support!
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Birmingham Ice Arena Summer Activities
Pickleball
Dates: June 1st - August 1st
Location: Birmingham Ice Sports Arena, 2300 East Lincoln
Pickleball is an exciting sport, described as "a combination of ping-pong, tennis, and badminton". This game is played on a badminton-sized court and is easy enough for a beginner, yet challenging enough for the advanced.
Call for reservations today! 248.530.1642
Mom to Mom Sale
Date: July 11th, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Birmingham Ice Sports Arena, 2300 East Lincoln
For more information, call (248) 530-1642.
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Avoid Fines: Keep Grass & Weeds Below Eight Inches
To ensure our city looks well-maintained, the City's ordinance requires grass and weeds to be kept below eight inches high. Poison ivy, ragweed or any other poisonous, noxious or unhealthy growths are prohibited. Those in violation of this ordinance will have their lawn mowed and will be required to pay for the service. Access the entire Grass and Noxious Weed ordinance (Sec. 118-66) on the City's web site.
For more information, call the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.
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Learn Proper Tree Mulching Techniques
Mulching is a technique used to benefit the overall health and growth of a tree, especially when it comes to root protection. As beneficial as mulch is, too much can kill trees and shrubs. Follow these key points below for proper tree mulching:
When Mulching At the Time of Tree Planting:
- Dig shallow planting holes 2 to 3 times as wide as the root ball;
- All wires, tags, and burlap should be removed from the tree;
- Prune dead or crushed roots with sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts.
- Only stake trees with large crowns, or those situated on windy sites;
- Backfill holes with existing soil. Compost can be added (if it is well mixed with the soil) to compacted soils;
- Place compost on top of the ground after planting. Compost contributes beneficial bacteria and helps hold water;
- Mulch lightly (2 to 3 inches) with aged wood chips;
- Mulch should be kept away from the base of the tree and spread over the surface to the drip line or crown. Think "mulch donuts" - not "mulch volcanoes";
After-Care:
- Water is crucial for proper tree establishment. If it is hot, 1 inch per week is needed (regardless of the amount of precipitation that is received). If gator bags are used, they should be filled twice per week;
- Replace mulch each year. Keep grass and weeds out of the mulched area, since they compete with the tree for water and nutrients;
- Reduce or eliminate herbicide use near tree and in surrounding lawn;
- To protect the tree trunk, keep lawn mowers and weed chips away from the base of the tree;
- Fertilizer should only be applied only after the first year, and only if nutrient deficiencies in the soil have been identified
For more information on proper tree mulching techniques, please visit the Southern Oakland County Water Authority (SOCWA) at www.socwa.org.
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New Exhibit at Museum Features Locally Discovered Mastodon Bone
Visitors to the Birmingham Historical Museum & Park's current exhibition will see part of a mastodon related to the history of Woodward Avenue. As glacial ice melted 10,000-12,000 years ago, the landscape became wet and swampy, and large herd animals like mastodons formed trails along the highest ground. That route later was used by native peoples and became the historic Saginaw Indian Trail (now Woodward). The vertebrae was found a few miles east of the old trail along Adams Road in Auburn Hills. The animal (nicknamed "Adam," for the road), died after becoming stuck in swampy mud. The bone is on loan from Cranbrook Institute of Science, and will be on display during the exhibition, "History's Highway: The Story of Woodward Avenue," until April of 2016. Stop by to experience some fascinating stories of our favorite road! Wed-Sat 1 to 4 p.m. Adults, $7; Seniors/Students, $5, kids 5 and under/members, free. Find more information on the museum's webpage.
Photo of entire mastodon, 1917, Smithsonian Institution.
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June News from the Baldwin Library
Discover Your Inner Hero with Summer Reading Summer Reading is back to astonish you with its heroics. Children will be sharing with "Every Hero Has a Story". Teens will "Unmask". Adults will "Escape the Ordinary". Join us at the Open House on Friday, June 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Couch to 5k Heroics come in all types, so be your own hero with a Couch to 5K program. It kicks off on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. and continues throughout the summer. 
Everyone's Reading The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer Everyone's Reading returns this summer, and we will be reading The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. Author talks will happen Monday, June 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the Rochester Church of Christ and 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. Stop by the Reference Desk with your Baldwin Library card to pick-up free tickets.
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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