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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Birmingham, MI

Home Care Birmingham, MI

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic The Birmingham Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Birmingham, MI is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Birmingham, MI

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I have found that usually when you need the services of a company like Nita and Always Best Care Senior Services of Troy it concerns the changing life needs of a love one. The needs vary from short-term care, to 24 hr. assistance to finding new living quarters with appropriate services to support your loved one. You are searching for options in an area foreign to you and you need someone you can trust. During the past two years, my family and I have had the opportunity and good fortune to turn to Nita and Always Best Care in two such instances. It took but a few minutes to understand the passion Nita has for her clients, as she quickly became an extension of our family’s decision process. You can never put a value on good solid information, especially when given from a listening, caring, honest, trusted and empathic professional in a time of need. When you come to those trying times and the stakes and fears of making the wrong decision for the welfare of your loved one have you stressed, you could not be in better hands than Nita and Always Best Care. That is exactly what my family and I did and today, my parents are still enjoying their renewed life style at an Independent Living Facility. They could not be happier in their new home and the family is secure in knowing we made an informed and ultimately the right decision due to Nita’s guidance. Recently in the course of less than 3 days we required 24 hr. services for my 93 yr. old Mother-in Law. Today she is receiving the best of care and Nita was supportive and instrumental in directing us towards making the right decision for her. The value Nita and Always Best Care offers to families is having a Trusted, Informed, Dedicated Professional, passionate in assisting you and your family to the Best and Correct Decision for your unique situation. Thank you Nita for being there when we needed you most. ~Family of John S.”

Family O.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Birmingham, MI?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Birmingham, MI

Types of Elderly Care in Birmingham, MI

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Birmingham, MI
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Birmingham, MI
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Red Mountain Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Birmingham, MI
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or visit Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Birmingham, MI

Benefits of Home Care in Birmingham, MI

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Birmingham, MI, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Birmingham, MI

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MI's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Birmingham, MI

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Birmingham, MI understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Birmingham, MI

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Birmingham, MI

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Baldwin House Senior Living Birmingham
  • StoryPoint Birmingham
  • Patterson Care Services Inc
  • A Simple Solution LLC
  • All Seasons Birmingham
  • Arden Courts - ProMedica Memory Care Community (Bingham Farms)
Home Care Birmingham, MI

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Birmingham, MI

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Birmingham, MI 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Birmingham, MI

Latest News in Birmingham, MI

Birmingham’s new Big Rock Italian Chophouse: Upscale dining, cigar lounge, private club

A new restaurant concept with a familiar name is headed for the former Big Rock Chophouse location in Birmingham's rail district.Big Rock Italian Chophouse on Thursday was announced as a new concept from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) for 245 S. Eton St. in Birmingham.In mid-April, the company submitted design plans to Birmingham's Historic District Commission for a restaurant at Birmingham Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot.More:...

A new restaurant concept with a familiar name is headed for the former Big Rock Chophouse location in Birmingham's rail district.

Big Rock Italian Chophouse on Thursday was announced as a new concept from Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) for 245 S. Eton St. in Birmingham.

In mid-April, the company submitted design plans to Birmingham's Historic District Commission for a restaurant at Birmingham Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot.

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The project transforms the historic train station and former home of Big Rock Chophouse into the new upscale eatery, cigar lounge, and private member club. Big Rock Chophouse was sold and closed in 2021 by longtime owners Norm and Bonnie LePage.

More:Big Rock Chophouse in Birmingham will close at the end of the year

This new, $10 million project is a joint venture, according to a news release, with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) and several local investor partners, including Tom Celani and Dario Bergamo.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Big Rock Italian Chophouse to Birmingham. Over the next year, our team will work to update and reintroduce this spectacular property,” said Cameron Mitchell, company founder. “We consider southeast Michigan a second home market and are eagerly looking forward to the opening and success of another new concept in Birmingham.”

The restaurant group said it is creating an 11,000-square-foot signature "fine-dining Italian Chophouse." Big Rock Italian Chophouse will serve prime steaks and chops, a selection of handmade pasta with rich and robust sauces, a world-class wine list, an extensive bourbon collection, and handcrafted cocktails.

The new Big Rock Italian Chophouse will be designed by Chicago-based Knauer, Inc.

“Our goal is to create a comfortable space that will bring people together, not just for a special occasion but to enjoy each other’s company over a glass of wine, a great meal, or a cigar,” said Bergamo in a news release.

Plans are for the expansive restaurant to have nearly 400 seats, including more than 100 outdoors. There will be three bars and multiple private dining rooms. The property will also feature a private cigar club with a terrace.

“From dining and drinking to enjoying a cigar with friends after a long day, this will be a premier destination for many years to come, ” said Tom Celani in a news release.

The space is expected to have a mix of contemporary and classic design elements, including rich leather and wood accents and overhead canopies to create a "warm and comfortable ambiance."

A highlight of the private membership club is that it includes a personal concierge with guaranteed reservations not only at the new Big Rock Italian Chophouse but any Cameron Mitchell Restaurant nationwide, including Ocean Prime in Troy. Club members will also have access to an exclusive lounge and separate cigar lounge with "luxury amenities" and special events, according to a news release.

Under its restaurant portfolio, CMR has operated several of its restaurant concepts in Michigan, including Cameron’s Steakhouse (now Mare Mediterranean) in Birmingham and Mitchell’s Fish Market in Livonia, Lansing, Rochester Hills and Birmingham (Sidecar Slider Bar), which were sold to Ruth’s Hospitality in 2008.

Its sister company, the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, operates locations in Bloomfield Hills, Northville Township and Bingham Farms.

Ocean Prime restaurants, also from CMR, were first introduced in Troy 15 years ago. Since then, 17 Ocean Prime locations have opened across the country. A new Ocean Prime is opening on June 21 in Las Vegas.

CMR restaurants are known for their genuine hospitality mantra of “Yes is the Answer, What is the Question?” That's also the title of Cameron Mitchell's book detailing his rise from dishwasher to restaurateur.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

Birmingham booming with new businesses

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - Birmingham is bustling more than ever, with new businesses opening their doors every year.Throughout the city, there are more than 600 businesses, with 25 of those newly opened in the last year and a half."It really is the premier dining and shopping district in Michigan. You really feel like you're in your own little urban downtown," said Cristina Sheppard-Decius, Birmingham Shopping District...

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - Birmingham is bustling more than ever, with new businesses opening their doors every year.

Throughout the city, there are more than 600 businesses, with 25 of those newly opened in the last year and a half.

"It really is the premier dining and shopping district in Michigan. You really feel like you're in your own little urban downtown," said Cristina Sheppard-Decius, Birmingham Shopping District Executive Director.

It's a city rich in art, culture and a variety of thriving brick-and-mortar businesses.

"Why businesses come here is because there is already great success here. There are people here on the street every single day. It is bustling," Sheppard-Decius stated.

Every year, Sheppard-Decius says Birmingham attracts nearly seven million visitors. It's a densely populated community that Sheppard-Decius and Cindy Ciura say draws in retailers.

"Retailers like to go where other retailers are going. And quite honestly, everybody wants to be in Birmingham," said Ciura, Principal of CC Consulting.

Via Manzoni, a lavish boutique new to the area and the first of its kind in the U.S., is one of those retailers.

"We would like to offer a very special unique shopping experience," said owner Giulia Zhou.

With more than 40 different designer brands in fashion, furniture and home appliances, this boutique is bringing the luxury of Italy to downtown Birmingham.

"We want you to experience that you're shopping in Italy," Zhou said.

Down the street is CB2, an extension of Crate and Barrel that opened its doors in February.

"Every single product in our store has a designer backing it up," said Store Manager Heidi Tippery.

With its urban yet modern twist, Tippery says Birmingham is the perfect place with core customers who showcase its brand.

"I think that the product range that we carry is very unique, and no one has it," Tippery said.

It's a booming city with endless experiences.

"There's so many things that create a dynamic city, and I think, fortunately, Birmingham has all of those requirements," Ciura said.

"Come take a walk with us and see and explore. It's beautiful," added Sheppard-Decius.

Alysia Burgio

Growing up in Metro Detroit, joining the CBS News Detroit team is a lifelong dream for Alysia Burgio.

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Big Rock Italian Chophouse to replace Birmingham’s former Big Rock Chophouse

After nearly 40 years, Birmingham’s Big Rock Chophouse closed its doors in 2021. But developers have now announced a new restaurant called Big Rock Italian Chophouse will open in its space at 245 S. Eton St., the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot.According to a press release, the new restaurant is expected to open in summer 2024. The $10 million project is a joint venture with ...

After nearly 40 years, Birmingham’s Big Rock Chophouse closed its doors in 2021. But developers have now announced a new restaurant called Big Rock Italian Chophouse will open in its space at 245 S. Eton St., the former Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot.

According to a press release, the new restaurant is expected to open in summer 2024. The $10 million project is a joint venture with Columbus, Ohio-based Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and local investor partners Tom Celani and Dario Bergamo.

The developers say the 11,000 square-foot fine-dining Italian chophouse will feature a menu focused on prime steaks, along with pastas, wine, bourbon, and handcrafted cocktails.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Big Rock Italian Chophouse to Birmingham. Over the next year, our team will work to update and reintroduce this spectacular property,” the restaurant group’s founder and CEO Cameron Mitchell said in a statement. “We consider Southeast Michigan a second home market and are eagerly looking forward to the opening and success of another new concept in Birmingham.”

Big Rock Italian Chophouse’s design is helmed by Chicago-based firm Knauer, Inc.

Cameron Mitchell Restaurants’ other Michigan restaurants include Cameron’s Steakhouse in Birmingham, Troy’s Ocean Prime, and Mitchell’s Fish Market, which had locations in Livonia, Lansing, Rochester Hills, and Birmingham before being sold in 2008. Sister company the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern operates locations in Bloomfield Hills, Northville, Park Place, and Bingham Farms.

Big Rock Italian Chophouse will seat approximately 375 guests including more than 100 outdoor seats. It is also planned to include a private cigar club and terrace, as well as a private membership club experience with a personal concierge, guaranteed reservations at Big Rock Italian Chophouse, and preferred reservations at any Cameron Mitchell Restaurant nationwide.

Birmingham closes on purchase of YMCA property for senior center

BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham NEXT has been operating at Midvale School without a comprehensive lease, and in order to offer all of its services to the community and grow as an organization, it has decided to establish its own location.The City Commission directed then-City Manager Tom Markus to work with NEXT, the city’s name for its senior services, to find a new home. This is when the city began to explore the possibility of purchasing the YMCA building at 400 E. Lincoln St.On June 5 the commission passed a resolution ...

BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham NEXT has been operating at Midvale School without a comprehensive lease, and in order to offer all of its services to the community and grow as an organization, it has decided to establish its own location.

The City Commission directed then-City Manager Tom Markus to work with NEXT, the city’s name for its senior services, to find a new home. This is when the city began to explore the possibility of purchasing the YMCA building at 400 E. Lincoln St.

On June 5 the commission passed a resolution to approve and execute a $2 million purchase agreement between the city and the YMCA.

NEXT agreed to contribute $500,000 to the purchase

At a meeting on July 24, the commission approved a three-year lease agreement of $1 per year allowing the YMCA to continue to provide its services after the city closes on the purchase. This provides a three-year transition period where the YMCA will continue to offer services and have some responsibility for the maintenance of the property. The city’s senior services department will secure a written agreement with Birmingham Public Schools to allow the continued use of the Midvale School building for up to three years.

After that, senior programming will occupy 75% or more of the square footage of the YMCA building.

These three years are intended to allow time for planning, financing and necessary renovations to occur. The city officially closed on the purchase of the property July 26.

What does this mean for the YMCA? “I think in this opportunity there is a way we can maintain a presence here, plus meet a community need and work with a great organization,” Helene Weir, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Detroit, said at the June 5 City Commission meeting. She said the Y plans to work with the city to continue to serve the “many people who currently use both NEXT and the YMCA.”

Weir suggested that there is a potential for the YMCA to support the continuation of intergenerational programming.

“We will continue to be here and we will continue to operate the next few years as we currently do, and we will look forward to operating here still — in a somewhat different way — but we would still want to be part of the Birmingham community,” Weir said.

Weir said that they cannot predict the future, but it is their goal to remain in the community to some capacity.

“We want to still be engaged here and provide some support to the people in terms of the quality of life that’s offered in the city,” Weir said.

At this point, there is no intent from the city to invest in the ongoing upkeep of the Y’s pool.

“Part of what the YMCA is doing is we are looking at the opportunity to develop a new Y that would serve this community and Royal Oak,” Weir said.

Mayor Therese Longe thanked the YMCA for their decision to work with the city.

“So we thank your board for making that decision,” Longe said. “You certainly could have gotten more money elsewhere, and you prioritized maintaining your services here for a few more years and then maintaining some programming thereafter, and maintaining your history and tradition and your role here.”

Looking forward for NEXT The city’s senior services are currently operating out of a 10,000-square-foot space, including five rooms and a portion of the gym. They are now serving 2,500 people and have 230 events a month.

“This extra room will really help us to serve your residents better,” said Cris Braun, the executive director of the department.

The new space will give NEXT approximately 40,000 square feet for their services.

Residents to see marijuana issue on ballot

BIRMINGHAM — In November, Birmingham voters will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed amendment to the city code.This proposal was initiated by city officials to maintain control over marijuana regulations in Birmingham.The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act passed in 2018, legalizing the use and possession of recreational marihuana for people over 21 years of age. However, the Birmingham City Commission passed a resolution to opt out of having marijuana establishments within the city’s jurisdic...

BIRMINGHAM — In November, Birmingham voters will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed amendment to the city code.

This proposal was initiated by city officials to maintain control over marijuana regulations in Birmingham.

The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act passed in 2018, legalizing the use and possession of recreational marihuana for people over 21 years of age. However, the Birmingham City Commission passed a resolution to opt out of having marijuana establishments within the city’s jurisdiction.

Regardless of the commission’s 2018 decision, the MRTMA allows citizens to initiate an ordinance allowing marihuana establishments to be on the ballot through a petition. If an outside party were to initiate a petition, they would have control over the ordinance, and its terms, regulations and qualifications.

Potentially, this means a business that wants to sell in Birmingham could collect signatures for a petition to make it on the ballot.

“My interest as a city attorney is protecting the city, and I believe it’s the city government and its residents who should be determining the fate of a community,” Birmingham City Manager Mary Kucharek said.

So the city decided to opt-in to the ballot initiative.

Birmingham Mayor Therese Longe said, “The city has been paying attention to what has been happening in our surrounding communities. … We took note of the fact that several of these communities have had basically ballot language forced on them by an outside group that initiated a petition.”

Longe referenced a recent petition that was initiated by an outside group which was accused of misleading voters.

“We thought, ‘We can not sit here and wait for someone else to do this, given that it is happening in our surrounding communities,’” Longe said. “We need to be proactive and put this issue in front of Birmingham residents so that they can decide.”

According to the city of Birmingham’s website, the language on the ballot will read: “Shall the Birmingham City Code ordinance, Chapter 26 – Businesses, Article XII, which currently prohibits the sale of marihuana in the City of Birmingham, be amended to authorize and allow one (1) medical marihuana facility and one (1) marihuana recreational establishment to operate in the City of Birmingham?”

Voters will have the option to vote yes or no on this proposal Nov. 7. If the proposal does not pass, the possibility reopens for an outside entity to initiate a ballot question. However, Longe said that if residents vote no, the hope is that outside groups will receive the message that Birmingham residents are not interested. If residents vote yes, then the city will be able to limit the number of facilities and control the process.

“If an outside agency or an outside entity — and they’re usually, obviously, marijuana businesses — writes their own ballot language, they also write the criteria by which the licenses are awarded,” Longe said. “So if it’s our ordinance, we wrote it to give the most protection to Birmingham residents, the most control that we could legally take to the city, and we got to design our own criteria for awarding the license should Birmingham residents vote yes.”

Three potential zoning areas would be allowed to be considered for the one medical marijuana facility and one recreational marijuana establishment. These locations include the southeast corner of Maple and Cranbrook; in the Triangle District, off of Woodward, south of Maple and east of Adams but inclusive of Adams Square; and in part of the Rail District. A more detailed map of these potential locations can be found at bhamgov.org/mhmap.

These locations are where MRTMA allows facilities to be. MRTMA’s language requires these facilities to be a certain distance away from schools and churches. Due to the language the city drafted in the ordinance, these locations are also contingent upon existing zoning, meaning it could only go in places that are already zoned for retail.

“That basically leaves those areas that are on the map,” Longe said. “They are existing retail, but they are not within 1,000 feet of a school or church.”

The city cannot initiate an ordinance to ban the sale of marijuana within the city, but an outside entity could initiate a petition to do so.

“Our mission is to let the community decide what they want in their jurisdiction of their city and let the people make the decision for the community as opposed to simply the Birmingham City Commission or outside entities deciding fate for the residents of Birmingham,” Kucharek said.

To view the proposed changes of the amendment, visit bhamgov.org/proposedchanges. To see a map of potential locations for these facilities visit, bhamgov.org/mhmap.

To watch the City Commission’s discussions on the topic of a marijuana ordinance, visit, vimeo.com/channels/1447141. They discussed it in depth in a workshop Feb. 13.

Birmingham Launches Survey for Aging in Place, Meeting Dec.13 to Share Input

Birmingham Launches Survey for Aging in Place, Meeting Dec.13 to Share Input(City of Birmingham, Dec. 10, 2023)Birmingham, MI – Efforts are underway to help Birmingham seniors age in place. Your feedback will help the City develop an action plan to improve the health, safety and welfare of older adults in Birmingham.The Ad Hoc Aging in Place Committee created a survey for residents of all ages, available to submit online at ...

Birmingham Launches Survey for Aging in Place, Meeting Dec.13 to Share Input

(City of Birmingham, Dec. 10, 2023)

Birmingham, MI – Efforts are underway to help Birmingham seniors age in place. Your feedback will help the City develop an action plan to improve the health, safety and welfare of older adults in Birmingham.

The Ad Hoc Aging in Place Committee created a survey for residents of all ages, available to submit online at engage.bhamgov.org/aginginplace. Respondents may also complete the survey in print form and mail it to the City or drop it off at City Hall (151 Martin Street), the Baldwin Public Library (300 West Merrill Street), The Birmingham Museum (556 West Maple Road) or Next (2121 Midvale Street). Print copies of the survey are also available at each of these locations.

The committee welcomes anyone who wishes to have input into developing a citywide Aging in Place Action Plan to complete the survey and be heard.

Save the Date

On Wednesday, December 13, 2023, the Ad Hoc Aging in Place Committee will hold their regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. at the Baldwin Public Library to receive public input from residents as it relates to aging in place. Please join us to share your feedback!

Birmingham tables ordinance to gather more information

BIRMINGHAM — Marijuana shops could come to one of Oakland County's most lucrative communities if an ordinance allowing retail establishments gets approved.For reasons including pre-empting any possible ballot drive, city commissioners are considering an ordinance that would allow for up to one medical and one recreational shop within the city limits.Birmingham currently prohibits retail locations for marijuana, ...

BIRMINGHAM — Marijuana shops could come to one of Oakland County's most lucrative communities if an ordinance allowing retail establishments gets approved.

For reasons including pre-empting any possible ballot drive, city commissioners are considering an ordinance that would allow for up to one medical and one recreational shop within the city limits.

Birmingham currently prohibits retail locations for marijuana, a decision made less than a week after Michigan voters authorized recreational marijuana use back in 2018.

While there was plenty of talk during the April 24 city commission meeting surrounding the potential allowance of such businesses, the commission voted unanimously to table a proposed ordinance to gather more information.

"I think we can all reasonably conclude that it is better not to sit here as a sitting duck and to take no defensive action," Mayor Therese Long said. "Including this due diligence that we've asked for."

City attorney Mary Kucharek showed the city commission a map of all the potential locations where a marijuana facility could locate considering marijuana shops cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school, church or park.

That requirement leaves only a handful of major areas in the city eligible for such businesses, including the eastern side of Woodward Avenue from Ruffner Avenue to Maple Road, as well as in the Triangle District from Ruffner to near Bowers Street.

Such businesses could also locate within the Rail District along the east side of Eton Street from Holland Street to Maple. Such a business could also locate on the property at the southeast corner of Maple and Cranbrook Road.

"Looking at this red map, it doesn't mean you're going to have a marijuana establishment or facility everywhere you see red," Kucharek said. "It's just that this is where the map would give that 1,000 foot buffer."

Such businesses would also need to conform to the city's zoning ordinances.

Some commissioners appeared opposed to the notion of marijuana shops in Birmingham.

Commissioner Clinton Baller said adding some new parks would add new 1,000-foot radii to the city's map, which would effectively ban marijuana shops completely from the city.

"How many more micro parks would we need to the point where there's just nowhere in Birmingham where you could put it?" he said. "Just brainstorming here, guys. I don't think it's a ridiculous idea."

Commissioner Brad Host agreed.

"I don't know if that's feasible, and I don't know if we could do it soon enough," he said. "But I am intrigued by the idea because I think our residents would love that."

Several representatives who say they work in the marijuana industry spoke to the commission during the meeting, asking them to make sure such an ordinance would be fair and airtight.

"You guys need to understand that you are the center of the entire industry right now," said Aric Klar, who runs Quality Roots, a marijuana business, and is a Birmingham resident. "You guys have to do this right. You are the center of attention. Twenty percent of the industry comes from Birmingham, Michigan."

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Licensing of shops has been a legal headache for many communities. Communities such as Westland, Detroit and others have had lawsuits filed against them over their ordinances.

The commission decided it may want more information, including potentially speaking to an attorney who specializes in representing municipalities in cannabis law. Having as much info as possible, Long said, is the goal of the city commission before possibly enacting an ordinance.

"My goal is in getting the most bulletproof, defensible, ordinance we can get," she said.

Contact reporter David Veselenak at [email protected] or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.

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Common Ground’s 49th Annual Birmingham Street Art Fair taking place this weekend

The Guild of Artists & Artisans [theguild.org] (The Guild) and Common Ground [commongr...

The Guild of Artists & Artisans [theguild.org] (The Guild) and Common Ground [commongroundhelps.org] are proud to present Common Ground’s 49th Annual Birmingham Street Art Fair.

Located in Birmingham’s beautiful Shain Park, this year’s event will take place Saturday and Sunday, September 23rd & 24th. Shain Park is centrally located in the heart of downtown Birmingham, near shops and restaurants, ample parking, and is a lovely setting for this annual event.

Common Ground’s Birmingham Street Art Fair includes approximately 100 jury-selected artists, featuring jewelry, ceramics, painting, glass, photography, fiber and more. The event is an annual fundraiser for Common Ground, a nonprofit organization that has been helping people in need for over 50 years. As an organization that exists to help move people from crisis to hope, Common Ground’s partnership with The Guild has proven that the Arts can bring vital awareness to human issues. The Guild recognizes the necessity for cultural enrichment as an issue that extends beyond access to the Arts and starts with a need to empower individuals to maximize their potential. The fair includes a silent auction tent filled with beautiful artwork to bid on which directly benefits Common Ground.

The event will feature many returning artists such as: painter, Glenna Adkins [glennaadkins.com] [Ft. Thomas, KY]; sculpture artists, Sharon & Bryant Tubbs [bryantktubbsmetalworks.com] [Ypsilanti, MI]; and jeweler, Kristine Bolhius [kristinebolhuis.com] [Ann Arbor, MI]. Some new artists to the show include: featured artist - painter, Peter Stolvort [peterstolvoort.com] [Chalfont, PA]; jeweler; Julia MacLachlan [calicometalsjewelry.com] [Traverse City, MI]; and digital artist, Petrus Martens [martensprintworks.com] [East Lansing, MI]. For more information and a complete list of participating artists visit BirminghamStreetArtFair.com [theguild.org]. In addition to high-quality art, there will be inspiring live music performances by students from Axis Music Academy [axismusic.com] and Mayflower Music [facebook.com], individual singer and songwriter Donatella Pompeo [iamdonatella.com] from Detroit, and more. Fairgoers can also enjoy food from several food vendors including: Mariliyn’s Detroit [marilynsdetroit.com], Frick’n Good Cookies [frickngoodcookies.com] and Tastes For You [tastesforyou.com].

Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Michigan’s marijuana industry jolted by Ohio legalization, local vote defeats

Voters in metro Detroit and Ohio sent strong messages Tuesday that could have long-term impacts on Michigan’s $3 billion marijuana industry.As marijuana users pour into recreational marijuana shops in 160 Michigan communities, voters in four municipalities — Birmingham, Rochester, Grosse Pointe Park and Keego Harbor — rejected proposals to allow pot shops in their towns.At...

Voters in metro Detroit and Ohio sent strong messages Tuesday that could have long-term impacts on Michigan’s $3 billion marijuana industry.

As marijuana users pour into recreational marijuana shops in 160 Michigan communities, voters in four municipalities — Birmingham, Rochester, Grosse Pointe Park and Keego Harbor — rejected proposals to allow pot shops in their towns.

At the same time, across the state’s southern border, Ohio voters embraced legal recreational marijuana in a move that industry leaders fear could dim sales at southern Michigan pot shops — and the value of the many marijuana billboards that line U.S. 23 and Interstate75.

Related:

“I think Ohio is a much bigger deal,” said Al Williams, owner of Da¢ut marijuana stores in Detroit and Flint.

Stores in Lenawee and Monroe counties — especially those just off I-75 in Monroe Township about 15 miles north of the border — could be hurt, Williams said. “It’s going to have a huge impact on Monroe.”

There are 13 marijuana retailers in Monroe Township, which was awarded $570,000 in state marijuana tax revenue last year because of those stores. That’s in a township with a $4.1 million annual budget.

Township officials said they planned to use the money to fix roads, improve the fire station and expand a playground.

The township will have time to adjust to the potential lost revenue. It could be months or years before Ohio sets up a licensing system and green lights pot shops across the border.

Michigan’s marijuana industry has grown quickly since the first pot shops opened in 2019 and sales continue to grow, up 28 percent for recreational marijuana in September, compared to a year earlier.

There now are 574 marijuana retailers or microbusinesses in Michigan across 160 cities, townships and villages in 64 of the state’s 83 counties. There are 40 in Washtenaw County and 30 each in Kent and Kalamazoo counties. There are 22 in Oakland County and 20 in Wayne County.

Each community that has opted-in gets nearly $52,000 per store in annual payments. But the vast majority of the more than 1,500 municipalities in Michigan have opted not to allow the stores.

But voters in Birmingham, Rochester, Grosse Pointe Park and Keego Harbor all rejected proposals to allow them on Tuesday, with leaders in some of these towns raising concerns about who was behind them.

“It’s easily accessible, it’s not far; you can have it delivered to your door,” said Michele Hodges, mayor of Grosse Pointe Park. She said she was glad voters rejected the ballot measures and the stores they could bring. “In our community we feel we can do better,” she said.

The future of marijuana revenues are also unclear. Prices have fallen precipitously as demand — and stores — have increased and the industry has grown and growers and dispensaries have seen profits squeezed.

The arrival of recreational marijuana in Ohio could further harm the industry, Williams said. And that would hurt state marijuana revenues, which will top $59 million this year.

Advocates for the Ohio ballot proposal made note of this, even mocking the recent U-M football sign-stealing scandal to push for legalization, arguing that Michigan is also stealing tax revenue that should pay to fund Ohio’s schools and repair its roads.

With the market getting saturated — and knowing that Ohio voters were considering legalizations — Williams said he was aware that industry insiders were behind efforts to add more communities.

“I’ve seen this before,” Williams said. “These are owners in the industry that get politically active to extend the industry. Especially as Ohio is coming on now.”

Prior to Tuesday, little was known about the group that got the measures on the four municipal ballots, officials said. But they successfully used existing ballot procedures to get them before voters.

“We do not know (who was behind it),” said Hodges of Grosse Pointe Park.

The “Open Stores” group that was behind the efforts has a website that provides information on how much communities can get if they allow marijuana retailers. But the site has no contact information nor any details about who is behind it. Its address is a UPS store in Troy.

Hodges said campaign material implied the city had put the measures before voters but it had not. “Residents were unclear if the city was behind this,” she said. “The city had no involvement whatsoever with it.”

Keego Harbor officials initially blocked the measures from the ballot but Michigan Court of Appeals ordered them to put it back on.

West Maple Elementary wins National Library of the Year, becoming third school in Michigan history

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - With more than 100,000 school libraries in the country, more than half of them don't have a certified librarian.But at Birmingham Public Schools, principal Jason Pesamoska says they have the best waiting to help students each day at West Maple Elementary."Carrie is the heartbeat of our school," Pesamoska told CBS News Detroit Friday.Carrie Betts, who has served as the school librarian for 13 years, says not only does she enjoy helping students find their favori...

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - With more than 100,000 school libraries in the country, more than half of them don't have a certified librarian.

But at Birmingham Public Schools, principal Jason Pesamoska says they have the best waiting to help students each day at West Maple Elementary.

"Carrie is the heartbeat of our school," Pesamoska told CBS News Detroit Friday.

Carrie Betts, who has served as the school librarian for 13 years, says not only does she enjoy helping students find their favorite books, she loves teaching them too.

"We are often not seen as a regular classroom, but we do a lot of teaching," Betts says.

Thanks to some of that teaching, and after completing a very descript and lengthy application, Betts says folks can now book West Maple Elementary as the winner of this year's National Library of the Year award.

"We are the third school to receive the award in Michigan in the 60 years the award has been given out," Betts says.

When asked about how students and staff reacted to their latest historic achievement, Betts says she could wait to share the news.

"I was like you guys, I just got the greatest news! So that was really fun," Betts says.

From all of the flags that make students feel at home to the fortune of fiction and nonfiction books on the shelf, Betts says building one of the best school libraries in the country is more than about bookmarking your favorite book. It's about funding.

"Funding is the biggest issue. A lot of our students in Michigan don't have library programs that have a certified school librarian and that is kind of our hope is to start spreading the word that everyone should get this in Michigan," Betts says.

As a part of winning the award, Betts says the district received $10,000 to implement and improve school and library programs.

Ibrahim Samra

Ibrahim Samra joined the CBS Detroit news team as a multi-skilled journalist in September 2022.

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