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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
September 2018


Welcome to the September 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, September Edition
Inside City Hall, September Edition
Wrap of Old Woodward project reveals improved downtown  above and below ground


With a snip of the scissors by City of Birmingham Mayor Andrew Harris, members of the City Commission and other officials, the Old Woodward Reconstruction Project came to a successful conclusion on Saturday, August 11,  2018. The ribbon cutting ceremony added to an already festive mood as shoppers jammed downtown Birmingham for the annual Day On the Town shopping extravaganza also held that day.

With the project now complete, the City encourages the public to see us now in Birmingham and experience the new above ground amenities that include: wider sidewalks, mid-block crossings, granite benches and mobile device charging stations. Combined with the new underground infrastructure improvements, such as new sewers, new water mains and other hardware, downtown Birmingham is more modern, walkable and structurally sound.

The City wants to thank its merchants, downtown patrons and residents for your patience and understanding throughout the four-month project. The City realizes this was not an easy project to endure. However, with the changes now in place, Birmingham is a city that is ready for its future and invites you to come and experience it for yourself.

Abundant Produce at Birmingham Farmers Market
Harvest Festival - Sunday, September 16, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.  


Nearly 90% of Michigan's harvested produce is available at this perfect time of year! Come celebrate local farms and local eating with us at the Birmingham Farmers Market on Sunday, September 16th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
 
This event will feature food trucks such as Ned's TravelBurger, Regina's Food Truck, and The Nosh Pit Detroit along with barn animals from Bowers School Farm, hay bales for climbing, Kids Zone with Birmingham Youth Assistance, and music from WOMC Detroit.
 
The Birmingham Farmers Market will also be hosting a food drive for Gleaner's Community Food Bank to support our greater community. We encourage you to participate and bring a non-perishable item to donate at the market's information tent.
 
POP Club at the Birmingham Farmers Market
Beginning at the Harvest Festival on September 16th, children are invited to participate in an activity with the Power of Produce (POP) Club at the Birmingham Farmers Market! We are proud to bring the POP Club program back to the market this season with the help of Beaumont Children's. The program will take place Sundays, September 16th through October 7th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Each week children may visit the POP Club booth to receive their $5 voucher to spend on local produce within the market.

Shoppers can access the most up-to-date information about the market by "liking" the Birmingham Farmers Market Facebook page or visiting  www.birminghamfarmersmarket.org
Take an Ice Skating Class at the Birmingham Ice Arena  

Ice skating is a great form of exercise and fun for all ages! The next series of classes will run from  Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - Sunday, October 21, 2018. Class registration will take place on  Wednesday, September 5, 2018 from 5:00 pm -7:00 pm.
 
Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/icearena or  contact Jill Kolaitis, Learn to Skate Director:  jkolaitis@bhamgov.org or call (248) 530-1644 .
Free online portal AquaHawk can help residents track water use totals
 
Between watering the lawn, plants or vegetation you may have, the summer months tend to drive up your water usage. With that in mind, did you know the City has a complimentary service in place to help residents track their water usage via an online portal?
 
Known as AquaHawk, registered users to the portal can click and view easy to understand graphic displays of their current and historical water use. In addition, registered participants can receive phone, text or email alerts when their user defined thresholds-such as gallons used or the projected cost of the bill has been exceeded, potentially saving you money.
 
"AquaHawk is a free service that can help our customers be informed on their water use totals," said Lauren Wood, City of Birmingham Director of Public Services. "We are encouraging the public to consider joining the hundreds of users who have already signed up for AquaHawk."  
 
To subscribe, residents are advised to look for AquaHawk signup information on their upcoming water bills, or go to https://birmmi.aquahawk.us/login to register. You can also get more information on AquaHawk by contacting the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.
Introducing the SOCRRA Waste Wizard 
 
A brand new feature called Waste Wizard, an application on the SOCRRA website, provides instructions on how to handle every type of material. Simply t ype the name of a waste item and it will tell you how to recycle or dispose of it. Access the Waste Wizard at  https://www.socrra.org/.
September News from the Birmingham Museum
 

Did you know The Birmingham Museum has off-site exhibits? Learn about them at  https://www.facebook.com/TheBirminghamMuseum/videos/257706814868677.

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 .
September News from the Baldwin Library    
 
Read in the Park, with Elizabeth Berg and Lisa Wheeler
Saturday, September 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Head to Beverly Park for the second annual Read in the Park. Meet the authors, walk the Storybook Trail, and enjoy beautiful Beverly Park. At 1:30 p.m. hear New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg speak about her life and writing career. At 3:00 p.m. visit with beloved children's author Lisa Wheeler as she tells stories with puppets!
 



Books & Bites 2018
Friday, October 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Support the Baldwin Public's Library's upcoming Youth Room & Expansion while you enjoy wine, beer, and spirits tasting tables; a strolling dinner; a silent auction; and live music. Early Bird tickets are available at www.baldwinlib.org/booksandbites.
 
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.  
Mark Your Calendar for Health Expo & Flu Shot Clinic

Next, located at  2121 Midvale, will host a Health Expo & Flu Shot Clinic on Tuesday, September 25 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The event will feature more than 50 vendors providing raffle prizes and giveaways. Walgreen's of Birmingham will provide the high dose flu shot specifically for seniors, as well as the regular dose shot. The Birmingham Police Department will be accepting expired medications for safe disposal. Attendees should bring their ID and insurance cards. Most insurances, including Medicare are accepted. Please call (248) 203-5270 to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome but may have a longer wait. Learn more at www.BirminghamNext.org.

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,