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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
March 2018


Welcome to the March 2018 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!
Inside City Hall with Birmingham City Manager, Joe Valentine

Inside City Hall, March Edition
Inside City Hall, March Edition

Old Woodward Reconstruction Project Update

The Old Woodward Reconstruction Project is fast approaching, with pre-construction activity projected to begin the third week of March and the closure of Old Woodward between Oakland and Brown projected to occur about a week later.
 
The Old Woodward Reconstruction Project will be transformative. Underground improvements will include: new water mains, new combined sewers, irrigation, fiber optic system, electrical connections, enhanced soils and much more.
 
In addition, above ground improvements will 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. More information on the Old Woodward Reconstruction Project can be found on the City's homepage and at www.bhamgov.org/downtowninfrastructure .

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 paving the way to a more beautiful downtown! While Old Woodward receives important infrastructure upgrades this summer, the Birmingham Shopping District will make sure it's "business as usual" for everyone by offering the following great perks: 

* FREE Valet Parking
* Shopping Incentives
* Birmingham Bonus Bucks
Contests & Prizes
* Public Art Opportunities
* Special Events
* Enhanced Communications 
Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/downtowninfrastructure.
Participate in the Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade
 
Photo by Ed Morykwas_ River of Time Photography

Birmingham - it's where you live, work, go to school, shop, meet with friends, and feel at home. And, in 2018, the City of Birmingham - YOUR City - marks its Bicentennial year, recognizing the 200 th anniversary of the first land purchase in Birmingham!

We are excited to invite you to share in the celebration of this milestone by participating in the annual Celebrate Birmingham Hometown Parade on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:00 pm, rain or shine, followed by a family oriented After Party in Shain Park.
In celebration of Birmingham's Bicentennial, this year's parade theme is Celebrating 200 Years of Stories. Participants are encouraged to be creative and reflect their "story" relative to the City of Birmingham. The parade group that best embodies this theme (e.g., on their banner, clothing or accessories) will be awarded the Best of Parade Trophy.
Showcase your group in this year's parade! Register by April 19 th by calling the City Clerk's Office at 248-530-1880 or visiting www.bhamgov.org/parade for more information and registration forms.
Yard Waste Collection Resumes Week of April 2nd

Please note you may start putting your yard waste bags curbside for pick up on your refuse day during the week of April 2nd. Only the kraft-style paper bags are acceptable, or trash containers with a "Yard Waste" decal sticker attached (no plastic bags). 

If you have yard waste bags prior to April 2nd, you can either hold onto the yard waste until the curbside yard waste pick up begins, or take up to 10 paper yard waste bags to SOCRRA, located at 995 Coolidge, Troy MI.  

The City's contractor will not pick up yard waste prior to April 2nd, as it is prohibited by state law during the winter months. For more information, view yard waste guidelines on the City's website or  contact the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.

Pet Care & Safety Reminders for Walking Around Town

The City of Birmingham has several pet regulations designed to keep pets and people safe. Here are some useful reminders:
  • All dogs must be on a chain or leash and under reasonable control of some person at all times. A dog cannot go beyond the premises of its owner unless restrained by a chain or leash and under reasonable control.
  • All dogs and cats four months old or over must have a license. All dogs and cats shall be immunized against rabies, prior to issuance of a license. Licenses are issued by the City Clerk's Office at City Hall.
  • Owners cannot allow animals to deposit fecal matter in any place other than the premises where the animal is harbored or kept, unless it is immediately collected and removed.
  • If a person is walking an animal on property they do not own, whether public or private, they must have an appropriate device for the collection of fecal matter in their immediate possession and an appropriate depository for the transmission of fecal matter to the premises where the animal is harbored or kept.
  • No person shall harbor or keep any dog which, by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling, causes a serious annoyance to the neighborhood, or to people passing on the street.
Also, please remember dog waste should be collected with a bag and disposed of in your garbage container, not your yard waste bin. If you have questions regarding the Animal Ordinance you may call the Police Department at 248.530.1889 or the City Clerk's office at 248.530.1880.
  Sign Up Now for the Birmingham Citizens Academy
 

The Birmingham Citizens Academy will be offered only one time this year. The popular 6-week, 8-course program begins April 24, 2018 at 6 p.m. Birmingham residents who are interested in learning more about their local government attend this interactive program designed to make residents better informed and educated about how their local government works. Hands-on activities and walking tours in and around the city provide a unique approach to learning that makes this an enjoyable experience for any Birmingham resident, age 18 or older. Interested residents can apply by sending in a completed application to jhaines@bhamgov.org . View the complete schedule and download the application at www.bhamgov.org/citizensacademy. If you have questions, call Joellen Haines at 248-530-1807. Space is limited, apply soon!
Early Golf Sign-Up Incentive this Month
 
Spring is just around the corner!

We invite you to Lincoln Hills Golf Course during the last two weeks of March for our 2018 Early Sign Up Membership Bonus.  Early birds will receive their first round of golf on us! 

Get the Deal: Simply renew your membership between March 19 - 23 or March 26 - 30 at Lincoln Hills Golf Course between 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Lincoln Hills Golf Course is located at 2666 West 14 Mile Road. Learn more at www.GolfBirmingham.org. We'll see you on the green!
Still Time to Register for Ice Skating Classes
 
Sign up for an ice skating class at the Birmingham Ice Arena! Classes are for ages three years old and up. Ice skating is fun and a great form of exercise! See below for details regarding the next session of classes. 

Session 4 Dates:
March 5, 2018 - Sunday, April 22, 2018

Registration for New Skaters:
Saturday, March 3, 2018 10:00 am -1:00 pm

For more information regarding the class schedule and fees, registration and required forms, visit www.bhamgov.org/icearena or contact Jill Kolaitis, Learn To Skate Director, at jkolaitis@bhamgov.org or (248) 530-1644.
Support the In the Park Summer Concert Series
 

The 38th season of In the Park Summer Concerts will be held in Shain Park this summer. The concert series is offered to the community thanks in part to our very generous sponsors. Download the 2018 In the Park Summer Concerts Sponsor Form to view various levels of sponsorship opportunities that fit all budgets. Thank you in advance for your support!

Special Siren Test set for Wednesday, April 11

In an effort to promote severe weather safety preparedness, the County will conduct a special test of the Outdoor Warning System on Wednesday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m. The purpose of this test is to raise the awareness level of our citizens and offer schools and businesses an opportunity to test their internal disaster plans during normal business hours. View future  siren testing dates  online here .

Schedule Appointment Soon to Avoid Increase in Passport Acceptance Fees
 
Effective April 2, 2018, the passport execution fee will increase from $25 to $35. The $10 execution fee increase only applies to U.S. passport applicants using the DS-11 form, such as first-time applicants over 16, children under 16, and applicants who re-apply after reporting their previous passport lost or stolen.

The fee does not apply to adults eligible to renew their passport by mail using the DS-82 form. Renewal customers may apply online at www.travel.state.govAll other passport fees remain the same.

To avoid paying an additional $10, make an appointment with the City Clerk's Office before April 2 nd. Passport applications are by appointment only. Call 248-530-1880 or visit   www.bhamgov.org/passports for more information.
Save the Date: Rouge River Clean-Up Day set for May 19
 
Make a difference in your community by volunteering for the annual  Rouge River Clean-Up Day on Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. - noon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Linden Park and lunch will be served at noon. Volunteers will be removing invasive species and trash along the  Rouge  River. Volunteers should wear boots/sturdy shoes, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, hat and sunscreen. Mosquito repellent, gloves and bags will be provided. To volunteer, please call Connie Folk at  248-530-1642 .
Birmingham's Woodward Avenue the Focus of Past and Present



As part of its 2018 Bicentennial theme, The Birmingham Museum is co-sponsoring a three-part lecture series called "Hidden Undercurrents" in March, April, and May at the
Baldwin Public Library

The programs will focus on forgotten curiosities from Birmingham's past that relate to the present, including Woodward Avenue.  While the upcoming Old Woodward Reconstruction Project will be temporarily inconvenient, take heart.  Local author and historian Jim Craft will explain how bad roads - really bad-in the 1880's, led to a grass roots movement that changed everything about how roads are funded and maintained. And it was originally not automobiles, nor horse-drawn wagons, but the humble bicycle that was the catalyst. The two-wheeled delight of independent mobility led to civil engineering marvels such as Woodward Avenue, the first concrete paved road in the nation.

Join us at the Baldwin Library on March 8, at 7 p.m. for The Good Roads Movement in Michigan: How the late 19th c. Bicycling Craze Got Farmers out of the Mud. You just might feel better about this year's construction project!

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.
March News from the Baldwin Library    
 
SAT Practice Test
March 10, 2018, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Registration required.
Grades 9-12. Take a Sylvan Learning Center SAT practice test at the library, then come back on Thursday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. to see your score and find out how you can improve it for the real test.
 
Rochelle Riley
March 12, 2018, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Registration required.
Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley, who will speak about her new book, "The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery."
 
Books, Bags, and Bagels
March 18, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Support the Friends of the Baldwin Public Library by shopping for gently used handbags, totes and wallets priced at $5 and up. We are now accepting bag donations for the sale at the Circulation Desk.
 
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.  
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,