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City Hall
151 Martin, P.O. Box 3001
Birmingham, MI 48012 
Ph. 248.530.1800
Fax 248.530.1080
 
AROUND TOWN
July 2018


Welcome to the July 2018 edition of the Around Town e-Newsletter from the City of Birmingham. We hope you enjoy this e-newsletter and forward it to friends or family who may be interested in the City of Birmingham!
Inside City Hall with Birmingham City Manager, Joe Valentine

Inside City Hall, July 2018
Inside City Hall, July 2018

Old Woodward Reconstruction Project Update - 75% Complete
 

The Old Woodward Reconstruction Project is 75 percent finished and making significant progress toward being completed.
 
Contractors are expected to have the entire new concrete roadway fully installed throughout the construction on Old Woodward and Maple as the month of July kicks off. In addition, tree excavation has been completed on a majority of the project as the new month gets underway. Crews are expected to spend the first portion of July building new, concrete planter boxes for the new trees as well as completing the remaining above ground improvements, with an eye toward bringing the project toward its conclusion, anticipated to be in early August.
 
The underground infrastructure improvements as well as the above ground enhancements will result in a modernized downtown corridor that is second to none and will be enjoyed by residents, merchants, stakeholders and visitors for decades to come. While the remaining remnants of work are undertaken throughout July, the public is encouraged to visit downtown and see the transformation first hand as well as support city merchants throughout the remainder of construction. As a reminder, free parking in all City parking structures is now available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) along with four, two-hour free valet parking stands strategically located near the construction zone.

Project Quick Facts:
Timeframe : March through early August
Location : Old Woodward from Willits to Brown, plus a small section of Maple near Old Woodward
Contractor : Angelo Iafrate Construction
Improvements : Underground improvements include: new water mains, new combined sewers, irrigation, fiber optic system, electrical connections, enhanced soils and much more. In addition, above ground improvements include a narrower, concrete street with angled parking, a wider sidewalk for better walkability downtown and new traffic signals. All of these enhancements will create a new, up-to-date shopping and business environment that will ensure the vitality of downtown for decades to come. 

Stay Informed:  Learn more about the project at www.bhamgov.org/downtowninfrastructure . Receive regular updates about this project by signing up for the "Old Woodward Reconstruction General Information" group at  www.bit.ly/bhamnews . Residents are also encouraged to sign up for an e-notify system for the project at  www.bhamgov.org/enotify  to get real time updates by email or text.
Paving the Way to a More Beautiful Downtown
 
We're in the homestretch of the construction project! Businesses are OPEN during construction, and they're counting on your support in these final stages of the project. The BSD is helping businesses to ensure it's "business as usual" for everyone by offering the following great perks: 

FREE Two-Hour Valet Parking
(then $5 for each additional hour), Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Offered at four locations:  
- North Old Woodward Ave. near Willits
- Henrietta near Maple
- South Old Woodward near Brown
- Hamilton near Ferndale

Birmingham Bonus Bucks (BBB) PHASE TWO (Hurry - the promotion ends soon!) 
  • $10 in Birmingham Bonus Bucks will be awarded to shoppers for every $100 spent at BSD shops and boutiques, and for every $200 spent at BSD restaurants until the promotion maximum has been reached.
  • Spend your Birmingham Bonus Bucks before they expire on July 25.
  • Individuals are eligible to earn a maximum of $50 in Birmingham Bonus Bucks each month during the promotional period. Monies from submitted receipts may not be applied or carried over for future BBBs.
  • Visit www.ALLINBirmingham.com/BBB for promotion details and the submission form.
 Birmingham Construction Art Contest - Hurry - 
Cast Your Vote through July 15!









Art students, enthusiasts, professionals and even BSD businesses have joined in to enhance the barricades and add something special for those walking throughout town.  Vote for your favorite panel at  bit.ly/2018bhamart . Winning artwork will be displayed in downtown Birmingham at the completion of the construction project. Submit your vote now through July 15th.
Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/downtowninfrastructure .
Enjoy Summer Concerts & Movies in the Park
 
Head to Birmingham's Shain Park (located at Henrietta and Martin St.) and enjoy a live concert in a beautiful setting. Bring your blanket or lawn chair, kick off your shoes and enjoy performances by local bands playing a wide variety of music genres. Special afternoon concerts will be held on July 11 and August 1 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Visit Shain Park on your lunch break and enjoy music and entertainment! Mark your calendar to attend these upcoming concerts:

Wednesday, July 4, 2018 - No Concert 

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
 - Jill Jack (Folk) - Special afternoon performance, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018  - Mainstreet Soul (Variety), 7 p.m. 
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 - Magic Bus (Psychedelic Music, 60's & 70's), 7 p.m. 
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - The Invasion (Beatles), 7 p.m. 
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - The Blue Cat (Blues, Rock and Contemporary) - Special afternoon performance, 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday, August 1, 2018 - Gia Warner and Bobby Lewis (Rock Classics), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 - Surreal Humdinger (Classic Rock), 7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 - Joey Vee (Country), 7 p.m.
A special thank you to our 2018  In the Park Summer Concert sponsors!
Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/summerconcerts .
 
Sit Back and Enjoy the Show in Booth Park
It's showtime in the great outdoors! Head to Booth Park and enjoy family-friendly movies under the stars. The Birmingham Shopping District's popular Movie Night events offer pre-show entertainment at 7:30 p.m. followed by a movie at dusk. Upcoming events are as follows:

Friday, July 20 - Featured presentation: Back to the Future
Friday, August 24 - Featured presentation: The Incredibles

Learn more at www.ALLINBirmingham.com .
Shopping Extravaganza at Day On The Town
** Note Date Change - Saturday, August 11, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. **




















Attracting shoppers from near and far, Birmingham's biggest sale event of the year will draw thousands on Saturday, August 11 from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Day On The Town offers bargain-hunters with a unique opportunity to find discounted high-end merchandise throughout downtown Birmingham.

Whether you're looking for clothing, shoes, jewelry, dishes, vases or toys, Birmingham is the place to be on August 11! For more information about Day On The Town, visit   www.ALLINBirmingham.com/DOTT2018.
Officers Keep Neighborhoods Safe with Bike Patrols

Birmingham Police Officers have been on bike patrol in neighborhoods around the city. Connecting with the community through community policing programs is a major component of the Birmingham Police Department. Thank you to our officers for keeping the city safe for all who live, work and play in Birmingham!
Birmingham Welcomes New Businesses



Grabbagreen recently opened at 167 North Old Woodward. This quick service restaurant has a menu based around super food ingredients and offers a full selection of grain and green-based bowls with hormone and antibiotic-free chicken and beef provided by local farms that can also be made into wraps. The menu also offers fresh-pressed juices, handcrafted smoothies and acai bowls, breakfast, and healthy kid-friendly items. For more informati on, call  248.952.9977.

Alex Emilio Salon recently opened at 730 North Old Woodward. They offer superior hair design services. For more information, call 248.723.2230.

Eyedolize recently opened at 555 South Old Woodward. The studio, owned and operated by Kristina Juhas and Tanya Yono, specializes in eyelashes and eyebrows. For more information, visit www.eyedolize.com or schedule an appointment by calling 248.232.7100.
Pickleball Opportunities at the Birmingham Ice Arena
 

Next in cooperation with the City of Birmingham is hosting Pickleball at the  Birmingham Ice Arena this summer! Beginner pickleball lessons are available for newcomers or advanced beginners.
 
Open Drop-In Play - Now through August 5
Cost per drop-in: $1 Next members, $3 non-Next
members. Pay at the door or punch cards are available
in the Next office.
* Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8
p.m.
* Tuesdays, Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
* Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m

Enjoy six courts in a climate controlled setting with indoor amenities and easy parking. For more information  call Next at  248-203-5270, or the  Birmingham Ice Arena
at 248-530-1642.
Learn about the August 7 Primary Election
 
On August 7, 2018 Michigan's voters participate in an open primary election to nominate candidates to appear on the November 6, 2018 General Election ballot. Every registered voter may vote in the primary election.
 
The Libertarian Party has obtained primary ballot access, so the ballot will contain three party columns: Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian.

Voters will be nominating partisan candidates for:
Governor
United States Senator
Representative in Congress
State Senator
Representative in State Legislature
County Commissioner
County Convention Delegates
 
A proposal concerning the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage Renewal is also on the ballot.  Complete election and voting information is available at www.bhamgov.org/voting .
New online dashboard can help residents monitor water use, find ways to save on water bill
 
The City of Birmingham recently unveiled a new tool that can help residents track their individual water usage through an online dashboard known as AquaHawk.
 
Registered AquaHawk users can click to see easy-to-understand graphic displays of current and historical water use. Additionally, registered users can receive phone, text or email alerts when their user-defined thresholds---such as gallons used or the projected cost of the bill-have been or are projected to be exceeded. AquaHawk can help residents set water use goals and potentially, help you save money on your water bill.
 
"Registrations are growing daily, and so far we've received very positive feedback." said Birmingham Director of Public Services, Lauren Wood. "Residents recognize AquaHawk's value and are eager to take advantage of such a useful tool."
 
To register, visit www.bhamgov.org/waterandsewer. Residents will need to reference their water account number and a new AquaHawk PIN on upcoming water bills.
Learn about Construction & Maintenance Initiatives
 
Cone With the reconstruction of Old Woodward moving toward completion, the City has a number of other construction and maintenance initiatives planned to start this summer.
 

Local Road Paving Program gets go ahead

The City Commission recently approved a project calling for new sewer, water, and concrete paving for three local streets south of Lincoln and west of Woodward Ave.:
 
  • Bennaville Ave. - Edgewood Ave. to Grant St.
  • Ruffner Ave. - Grant St. to Woodward Ave.
  • Chapin Ave. - Grant St. to Woodward Ave. 
The project was bid as one package. The work is anticipated to get started in July and wrap up in November.
 

2018 Cape Seal Program underway in Quarton Lake neighborhood

The 2018 Cape Seal Project is underway in the Quarton Lake neighborhood with surface pulverization of select streets, followed by an application of stone chips and slurry seal approximately one week later.
 
The work will involve occasional daytime street-side parking bans and traffic restrictions. Project details, tentative schedules, progress updates, and other important communications are posted at bhamgov.org/capeseal.
 
The Department of Public Services appreciates residents' patience as it performs this maintenance.
Volunteer for the Birmingham Cruise Event

Tell your family and friends: volunteers are needed for the Birmingham Cruise Event! All volunteers will receive free event t-shirts, snacks and hydration all day long! Select from convenient 2 1/2 hour time slots. Volunteers are a valuable part of the Birmingham Cruise Event. Download the  volunteer registration form and sign up today. Thank you in advance for your support!

New Sculpture in Barnum Park
 

If you haven't been to Barnum Park lately, be sure to stop by soon and check out its new sculpture. Local artist Gary Kulak's Windswept sculpture was recently installed in Barnum Park. The tall red chair has curved legs leaning to one side, giving the impression of being swept up by the wind. The location in Barnum Park was chosen due to its alignment with the Barnum School arch. Stop by soon to see it!
July News from the Birmingham Museum
 

Join us on July 12 and August 9 for summer family storytimes at the museum! Our July theme is "Picnics" and August's is "Instruments". Storytimes start at 6:30 pm at the Hunter House and go until 7 pm. We will read several stories, sing a few songs and even dance! This is a free even. All minors are required to be accompanied by an adult while at the museum.
                

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is located at  556 W. Maple Rd . Parking is available in the Chester St. structure on the south side of Maple. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors, children five and under are free. Please visit us on the web at:  www.bhamgov.org/museum  or  www.facebook.com/TheBirminghamMuseum .
July News from the Baldwin Library    
 
Sign up for our 2018 Summer Reading Program, Libraries Rock!
Visit the Library to sign up in person or go to www.baldwinlib.org/summer-reading to get started.
 
Music Explorers String Concert
Sunday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m.
The Baldwin String Ensemble returns for another meeting of the Music Explorers to examine Schubert's "Death and the Maiden."
 
Wizard Rock Concert with Tonks & the Aurors
Saturday, July 28 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Join Tonks & the Aurors for a night of Harry Potter themed musical performances. Dress up, nerd out, and bring your friends to rock! This is an after-hours event. Tweens, teens, and adults are welcome. Please register.
 
The Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street in Birmingham. For more information visit www.baldwinlib.org  or call (248) 647-1700.  
Nominations due July 22 for 2018 Birmingham/Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award
 
Know someone who had made an impact on the arts in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community (Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township and Franklin)? Nominate him or her for the 2018 Birmingham/Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award!
 
Jointly sponsored by and the Cultural Council of Birmingham/Bloomfield in conjunction with The Community House, the Observer and Eccentric Newspapers, and the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, this year represents the 23rd year that the award has been granted. Past honorees have included musicians, philanthropists, writers, thespians, sculptors, painters, teachers, photographers, and volunteers. The winning nominee will be honored at a reception open to the public at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
 
Download the Nomination Form for criteria. For questions or further information please contact Marcy Heller Fisher at marcy1fish@gmail.com or fax to (866) 403-6794.    

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. Or, to make a complaint, call the Birmingham Code Enforcement Hotline at 248-530-1859, and leave a detailed message.
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,