Friends,

Less than three years ago, I quit my job in corporate communications and went headlong into freelancing. I called it, “my adventure.” Since then, I’ve been especially aware of taking risks and doing things that scare me.

Well, I’m heading into another adventure next month. I’m running my first 5k.

I’m not entirely sure how I got talked into this. I’ve never liked running. In fact, I’ve warned people that if you see me running, you should probably be running, too.

Yet, here I am in the middle of training week five.

I’m using a couch-to-5k app, and if we’re being honest, I still identify way more with the couch aspect than the 5k aspect. I’ve also developed an obsession with running clothes, updating my playlist and keeping my newly chopped hair out of my face without looking like a sweaty Medusa.

The struggle is real, y’all.

The event is Women Run the D on Sept. 15 on Belle Isle. I have no idea if I’ll keep up with running after the race, but I’m enjoying the challenge and proud of my accomplishment already. My goal is to finish in the top 500 in my age bracket. Keep your fingers crossed!

Rebecca

It’s Time to Verify Returning Students

Hard to believe, but it’s time to start thinking school supplies.

Before students can register for the 2019-20 school year, parents must fill out the return student verification forms.

This online process allows families to provide the school with the most up-to-date parent/guardian contacts, emergency contacts, agreements and health information. This process must be completed annually by each family before registration this week.

Please contact Robin McIntyre at 248-203-5021 or rmcintyre@birmingham.k12.mi.us if you have any questions.

Get Info on Non-Surgical Knee Treatment and Pain Relief

Rakel Assk, nurse practitioner from Nu Life Medical, and Disha Chablani, senior physical therapist, from DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, team up to talk about how chronic knee pain can be relieved with a revolutionary new protocol.

This event is Thursday, Aug. 22. at 11 a.m. Participants can learn how this four-part treatment plan is helping sufferers successfully put-off or avoid invasive knee-replacement surgery.

The cost is complimentary for Birmingham NEXT members and $5 non-members. Click her to register.

Catch a Movie Friday in the Park

Friday, Aug. 23, is Movie in the Park Night. Pre-show entertainment starts at 7:30 p.m. with Monsters, Inc. at dusk. The fun will be at Booth Park on Harmon Street in Birmingham.

Movie Night events are free for everyone and include complimentary popcorn, ice cream and water while supplies last, plus potential giveaways.

In the event of inclement weather, movie nights will be held Saturday.

Monitor the Birmingham Shopping District Facebook page for weather updates.

Birmingham Cruise Event Charges Into Town

The Woodward Dream Cruise will roll into town on Saturday, Aug. 17, bringing 40,000 classic cars and more than 1 million people from all over the world. Adding to the festivities, the Birmingham Cruise Event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on South Old Woodward from Maple to Lincoln.

The event features 300 classic cars of all makes and models, sponsor exhibits and live entertainment. Attendees can enjoy seeing Thunderbirds, Model A’s, Mustangs, Rolls-Royce and much more. Throughout the event area, food vendors will offer fresh squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, kettle corn, roasted corn, baked goods and frozen treats. Two cover bands, Collision Six and Cancel Monday, will perform live from noon to 5 p.m. In addition, Falken Tires will have an interactive display in the event area.

The Chevrolet exhibit will host a variety of displays to include the NEW 2019 Chevy Corvette Stingray. Both WXYZ Channel 7 and WOMC 104.3 FM will broadcast live throughout the day.

Event day registration is open to individual cars, model year 1988 and older. Individual cars may check in after 9:30 a.m. at the registration tent at Brown and Woodward (Jax Kar Wash). Day-of parking is $40, based upon availability and on a first come first served basis.

Birmington Covington Districtwide Gets Ready for Fall

Back-to-school packets were mailed to homes Aug. 7. Packet items are also posted on the BCS website, under parents tab, then back to school tab.

Welcome Back Wednesdays are also scheduled this week. The BCS office will have locker combinations and choice hour schedules, and the PTA has many opportunities as well. Parents can also drop off medicine needed for the school year.

• Wednesday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.to noon and 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the BCS cafeteria
• Wednesday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to noon and 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the BCS cafeteria

The school needs adult and 7th/8th grade student volunteers for Welcome Back Wednesdays to run smoothly. This opportunity could help 7th/8th grade students meet their summer packet’s community service requirement. Don’t delay, sign-up today.

For questions, please contact Nancy Best:  nbest@birmingham.k12.mi.us or 248-203-4522.

New VinoTalk Online Now

Wine lovers, be sure to check out the new edition of Vino Talk with John Jonna. This episode features two favorites: pairing wine with cheese.

Enjoy a Movie Under the Stars in Booth Park

The Birmingham Shopping District’s popular Movie Night events offer pre-show entertainment at 7:30 p.m. followed by a movie at dusk. Attendees enjoy free popcorn, ice cream, water and giveaways while supplies last.

Mark your calendar for the last Movie Night of the season! Join us on Friday, Aug. 23, for a screening of Monsters, Inc.

In the event of inclement weather, movie nights will be held the following day (Saturday).
Monitor the Birmingham Shopping District Facebook page for weather updates.

Learn more at www.ALLINBirmingham.com.

Dwight Levens Jr. Earns the Certified Education Technology Leader Designation

Dwight Levens, Jr., executive director for Technology Services with Birmingham Public Schools, recently earned the Certified Education Technology Leader designation by passing a rigorous certification exam.

The CETL certification, awarded by the Consortium for School Networking, signifies that Levens mastered the knowledge and skills needed to bring 21st century technology to K-12 school systems.

Take a Walk Along Birmingham’s Beautiful Nature Trails

Looking for things to do to enjoy the warm weather? Visit the Rouge River Trail Corridor. The nature walking trail runs alongside the river from Booth Park to Fairway Park, and around Quarton Lake. No motorized vehicles are allowed.

Watch for Master Plan Updates

August will be another active month in the ongoing city-wide master plan process.

The planning consultants from DPZ Co Design are preparing for a workshop with the Planning Board where the team will start reviewing and vetting the first draft of what will eventually become the master plan document.

Preparation for the Planning Board workshop comes on the heels of the busy Master Plan Drop-In Clinic, that was held last month in downtown Birmingham. Hundreds of people visited the drop-in clinic to meet with city leaders and the planning team, helping envision Birmingham’s next 20 years. In addition to the drop-in clinic, public engagement in July included the final submissions of a second survey.

Looking ahead, the planning team expects to present the first draft of the Master Plan document to the City Commission and Planning Board at the end of September. The final version of the Master Plan is due in January, to be followed by a thorough vetting process before adopting it by the middle of 2020.

You can follow the latest developments with the city-wide Master Plan at www.thebirminghamplan.com and on the city website.

Aerobatic Teams Fill the Skies at OCIA Open House & Air Show

The Phillips 66 Aerostars will once again tear into the skies at 250 mph over the Oakland County International Airport Open House & Air Show in four Extra 300L aerobatic planes. They will join other aerial performers at the Sunday, Aug. 11.

Admission is free. There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle.

Park Street Reconstruction Project Outlook for this Week

For the week of Aug. 5, the northern section of Park Street nearest to Oakland will be closed to traffic so crews can work on that section of the project. The closure of Park Street nearest to Oakland will not affect the normal operations of the Park Street parking structure.

Residents will be updated on next steps in the project once crews complete the work on the northern section of Park nearest to Oakland. Weather permitting, the project is anticipated to take four to five weeks.

Please contact the Engineering Department at 248-530-1850 for additional information.

Local Sweet Spot Featured in Local Business News

It’s been a circuitous path, but John “Ivan” Zaryckyj has reached his longtime goal of owning a neighborhood sweet shop.

The Beverly Hills resident and his family recently opened Splitz ‘N’ Blitz, which sells ice cream, custard, sodas, candy and a variety of desserts, on East Merrill in Birmingham. The shop is located in the space formerly occupied by Sweet Thing, a candy store, and is next door to the restaurant 220 Merrill. Read more.

Gov. Whitmer Annouces Winners for 2019 Governor’s Service Awards

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission recently announced the winners of the 2019 Governor’s Service Awards. The winners are individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were selected for their commitment to volunteerism, service or philanthropy.

Allan D. Gilmour of Birmingham received the Lifetime Humanitarian award.

Gilmour served as an advocate for numerous nonprofits, businesses, organizations and universities. He has contributed his expertise to serve on the nonprofit boards of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Business Leaders for Michigan, Detroit Regional Chamber, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit Zoological Society, Citizens Research Council and the Detroit Institute of Arts. His service also extends as an advocate for the LGBTQ community and supporting various LGBTQ endeavors.

His philanthropic efforts are vast. He was co-chair of the fundraising campaign at the University of Michigan that resulted in total gifts to the university of $1.4 billion, he then served as honorary co-chair on a second campaign that exceeded $3 billion. He helped found the HOPE Fund, a supporting organization of the Community Foundation that assists organizations that serve LGBTQ communities. He also created the Gilmour-Jirgens Fund in 1995, personally donating $4 million.

Birmingham Teacher Selected as a LEGO® Education Master Educator

LEGO® Education announced Jessie Heckman was selected by LEGO® Education for the 2019 cohort of its U.S. LEGO Education Master Educator Program. With the new cohort, the U.S. program includes more than 200 members, including Heckman, who embody the LEGO Education mission of enabling success for all students through hands-on learning experiences. Participants in the program represent a variety of grade levels and school districts from 39 states.

The LEGO Education Master Educator Program connects like-minded educators to share knowledge and ideas for student success through hands-on learning in classrooms. Participants also provide valuable feedback on solutions and programs to LEGO Education.

“I am so thrilled for the adventure that LEGO has provided for my students and me,” said Heckman. “I look forward to exploring and creating even more everyday creative opportunities for our school community through all that LEGO has to offer by bringing together a dream team of educators.”

Hot Nights with Cool Music

One of the great treats of the summer is sitting in a lawn chair with friends and family, listening to excellent music. So, don’t pass up the chance to lounge in Shain Park this summer and take advantage of one of the great summer experiences. All concerts except Wednesday, Aug. 14, are from 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 31- Thornetta Davis (Blues)
Wednesday, Aug. 7 – Magic Bus
Wednesday, Aug. 14 – SurfZurp (Beach Boys) noon to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 14 – Nobody’s Business (Roots Rock)

Wondering Why the Public-Private Partnership for N.O.W.?

The rationale for pursuing a public-private partnership structure for the Birmingham N.O.W. project is to minimize the city’s exposure to risk, reduce overall project costs and engage in a more efficient project delivery model.

A public-private partnership delivery model is a globally recognized model with three key partners: government entity, developer and the design-builder. Each partner has a distinct and separate role.

Friends,

It’s a huge week in Birmingham! Day On The Town starts Saturday, and it seems like the events keep coming through August.

For me, one of the best parts of summer is all the fairs, festivals and outdoor events. It just seems the street food tastes more vibrant, the adult beverages are colder, and everyone looks radiant. (Looking back at that sentence, you can see where my priorities are.)

Get out and enjoy Birmingham. And don’t forget to email me at citynewseditor@localbiznews.net with any tips or upcoming events!

~ Rebecca

Sale Extravaganza During Day on the Town in Birmingham

Birmingham’s largest sale event of the year will have the town jumping on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Day On The Town offers bargain-hunters an opportunity to indulge in retail therapy for discounted high-end merchandise in stores and on the streets and sidewalks throughout downtown Birmingham.

Birmingham merchants will place their discounted merchandise on display in the streets and sidewalks around the Maple and Old Woodward area from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Old Woodward will be closed to traffic from Willits to Brown; Maple will be closed from Bates to Peabody. Attendees will enjoy free parking in all parking structures and at meters throughout the event.

Yee-haw! Police Host Bike Rodeo for Kids

Saddle up for the Birmingham Police Department Bike Rodeo, at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 27, at 151 Martin Street.

This event is free for children ages 4 through 12. Kids can learn new skills and practice on challenge courses, visit the bike wash station and get a personalized bike safety license. Bike inspections will be offered by the Birmingham Police Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Birmingham Fire Department. Be sure to bring your helmet. For additional information, call 248-530-1863.

Who Done It?

It’s time to register for the Golf Murder Mystery Dinner taking place Saturday, July 27, at 5 p.m. Amateur sleuths first play nine holes, followed by a buffet dinner and then they will have to figure out “Who Done It.” This evening of mystery and fun is $45 per person. Margaritas are served at 5 p.m., so don’t be late. Register today by calling 248-530-1670.

Don’t Miss Adventure Mini Golf and Ray’s Ice Cream

Nothing says summer like mini-golf with a little friendly smack-talk and ice-cream. Get together with some friends through Birmingham NEXT and hit the links at this completely redesigned par 40, 18-hole championship course at the Royal Oak Golf Center.

After golf the group will head to Ray’s Ice Cream (not included in trip cost) and choose from over 50 flavors.

Cost: $20 members / $25 non-members

Tuesday, July 30 – Registration required

Bus departs Next at 11:30 a.m., returns about 2:15 p.m.

Click here to register

Become an Election Inspector

The city clerk’s office is seeking election inspectors to work the polls on Aug. 6 and Nov. 5. Election inspectors work from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and are paid $10 per hour.

Election inspectors are required to attend a paid training session before each election and must have strong computer skills. All election inspectors must be a registered voter, a resident of Michigan and at least 18 years of age or older. Student inspectors must be at least 16 years of age or older.

For additional information, contact the city clerk’s office at 248-530-1880 or carft@bhamgov.org. Applications are also available at the city clerk’s office, or at www.bhamgov.org/clerk.

Learn the History of the Blues with Joey Leone

On Saturday, July 27, at 7 p.m. blues man Joey Leone is back by popular demand for more history of blues music at this special after-hours event that will rock your socks off.

There won’t be any shushing at the Baldwin Public Library on this night. For more information visit www.baldwinlib.org or call 248-647-1700. Registration is required.

Bike Rodeo Coming to Town

Dust off your bike helmets and chaps. The Birmingham Police Department is hosting a bike rodeo at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, at 151 Martin Street.

The event is free for children ages 4 through 12. Attendees will learn new skills and practice on challenge courses, visit the bike wash station and receive a personalized bike safety license.

Bike inspections will be offered by the Birmingham Police Bicycle Patrol Unit and the Birmingham Fire Department. Bring your bike and helmet – and have fun! Questions? Call 248-530-1863.

Pickleball at the Birmingham Ice Rink

Join the latest craze in recreation. Enjoy six courts of open play in the Birmingham Ice Rink, complete with indoor amenities and easy parking.

Detailed information on open play and lessons can be found on at www.BirminghamNext.org.

Weekly Bike Events Geared for All Ages

Join Birmingham Next for bike rolls through town on Tuesdays through Fridays through Aug. 2.  The slow roll runs from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Drop-in cost is $1 for Next members and $3 non-members.

If you’re looking for more of a challenge, join the Next moderate roll bike group every Thursday at 10 a.m. the ride starts at Next.

This new group will take more advanced rides that run on local main streets in adjacent neighborhoods. The pace of the group will be about 12-15 mph with a starting distance of 20 miles. Rides will be like those run by established bike clubs. Contact chief biker Stuart Jeffares at stuartjeffares@gmail.com for more information.

Birmingham Community Education Summer Camp

Birmingham Community Education offers more than 20 half-day camps every week, including sports, cooking, fashion design, sculpture, computer game design, chess, kids empowered and more. Open swim times and swim lessons are also available. Check out the weekly camp guide at www.communityed.net or call 248-203-3800 to register.