“The Good Person of Szechwan”

Full Impact Theater invites you to experience German artist Bertolt Brecht’s engaging parable, “The Good Person of Szechwan,” under the creative vision of Full Impact Theater’s returning founder and director Dr. Lisa Hodge Kander. Its four live performances will have you both laughing and thinking at the intimate surroundings of the Ruth Cattell Auditorium in the OPC venue, 650 Letica Drive, located a stone’s throw from downtown Rochester’s Main Street. Opening night is Friday, May 17, at 7:00 p.m. Shows also run on Saturday, May 18, at both 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., concluding on Sunday, May 19, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee.

“Frogs and Toads”

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm will be presenting “Fascinating Frogs and Toads” on Saturday, May 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Museum. Admission is free for members of the Rochester Hills Museum. For non-members admissions is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students. Ages 5 and up are welcome. Guests will be learning the differences between frogs and toads and what role they play in the ecosystem. “Fascinating Frogs” will include a story, craft, and nature walk. To register for “Fascinating Frogs and Toads” call (248) 656-4663 or rhmuseum@rochesterhills.org.

The Rochester Hills Museum is located at 1005 Van Hoosen Road, off Tienken Road between Rochester and Dequindre Roads.

Oakland County Auction

A classic 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle is among more than five dozen vehicles up for bid Saturday, May 18 at the annual Oakland County Spring Auction. Other great items include a variety of Air Jordan shoes, Tiffany jewelry, men’s Movado and Rolex watches, a Wurlitzer Electronic Organ, and a pallet of miscellaneous cell phones and accessories. Auction items were confiscated during criminal investigations or previously owned by county and local governments. The auction will be held at the county’s Vehicle Operations Building, 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 16 East, in Pontiac.

The public preview of all auction items will begin Saturday, May 18 at 8:00 a.m. Those who wish to inspect only the vehicles up for auction may do so Friday, May 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The general auction gets under way at 9:30 a.m. Saturday followed by the vehicle auction at 11:00 a.m. Gates close at 3 p.m.

For more information, go to oakgov.com/auction or call,  248-858-1015.

3^rd Annual Paint Creek Crawl

The Paint Creek Trailways Commission and Friends of the Paint Creek Trail are hosting the 3rd Annual Paint Creek Crawl event on Saturday, May 18, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Encompassing the entire Paint Creek Trail and business districts from Rochester to Lake Orion, participants 16 and older will play a “scavenger hunt-style” game, collecting unique “stamps” from various locations to be entered in a prize drawing.  The Grand Prize is a $500 Gift Card to Rochester Bike Shop!

Forms will also be available the day of the event. Registration and pre-registration check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. and the ride will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Road, in Oakland Township. This year, it will end at the Rochester Mills Beer Co, 400 Water Street in Rochester around 12:00 p.m. Registered participants will receive a passport to collect the stamps, and there will be a prize drawing between 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. In addition to the Grand Prize, many other great prizes and coupons have been donated by local businesses.  For the safety of participants and other trail users, helmets must be worn while participating in the event

I get really confused sometimes and am not sure who I should listen too.  My doctor says I should take medicine, my wife says I should lose weight, my buddies tell me I’m fine, and my co-workers tell me to get a life!  I really don’t want to do any of them. Who should I be listening to?

Sincerely, Monte Messedup

Dear Mr. Messedup,

Well, I could get into a lot of trouble answering questions like this!  But then again, that’s what I get paid for!  As far as listening to people, that has never really been my strong suit. My mother used to get after me and so did my older sister, I think I learned to zone out at a very young age. I used to have no problem driving my vehicle and navigating where to go.  Then when I got married I apparently became incompetent or something, because Mrs. Crabby started telling me where to turn, when to stop, and that I needed to look out for the other cars in my way. Now it is only natural that I zone out and wake up startled when she is yelling at me to do something different. I can’t help but remember my friend telling me about his grandfather. He said that his grandpa died peacefully in his sleep, but everyone else in the car was screaming since he was driving! One day recently my daughter and I needed to switch cars for the day. She has one of these new cars with all the colored buttons on the rearview mirror.  I was backing out of my driveway and tried to adjust the mirror and bumped this blue button that said “Onstar” on it.  Suddenly this women started talking to me.  She called me by my daughter’s name and asked how she could help.  I said that I was her father and that I was just trying to get out of my driveway so I could go to my doctor appointment. She said, “No problem Mr. Crabby, can I help you get there?”  I thought who is this women in the dashboard who thinks she can take place of my wife?  I told her that unless she could get me there faster and find me some good Elvis music on the way that I was probably all set.  She said, “No problem Mr. Crabby, I can tell you the shortest route taking into account traffic and construction this time of day and if you tune your radio to XM channel 5 you will hear “Jailhouse Rock” right now”  You have got to be kidding me?  I was starting to like this lady!  I said, “Can you make me a decaf coffee and tell me tomorrow’s Lotto numbers too?”  She laughed and told me no.  Then she told me to have a good day and press the little blue button if you need anything else. So you see sometimes there are good voices to listen to and other times you need to be selective.  My advice for you is to always listen to your wife because she goes home with you, your doctor’s and buddies and co-workers either get paid to advise you or don’t really care about the outcome. Good luck.

Sincerely, Dear Crabby

Stuck in a rut? Need some biased advice from a crabby old baby-boomer? Go to www.DearCrabby.org and ask your question.

Photos courtesy of Barton Malow/Rewold, LLC.

The hospital will continue to hold its 290 licensed patient beds, but instead of housing predominantly semi-private rooms, there will be more space for all-private accommodations.

Semi-private rooms contain two patients—an A- and B-bed, divided by a curtain—whereas all-private rooms house one patient and offer more space for family members to stay overnight.

The older portion of the hospital will make the shift to private rooms, cutting out curtain dividers and the extra space in the tower allows this expansion.

Photos courtesy of Barton Malow/Rewold, LLC.

On a busy day, Crittenton staff will treat 240 patients,  said Monte Oberlee, an administrative team member who is responsible for Crittenton facilities.

Bottom line, “When we’re done with this addition, we would be able to accommodate 240 private-room patients,” he said.

Should they need more than 240 rooms, some can shift to the former semi-private, dual-patient quarters.

And the biggest change in thinking for patients is that a private-room stay is now covered by insurance, Oberlee said.

“Just about everywhere I go, somebody raises that question about ‘well, my insurance won’t pay for this’ and that just isn’t the case anymore,” he said.

Hospitals and healthcare providers get reimbursed by what’s called a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) that estimates patient cost based on treatment and not by accommodations, Oberlee said.

“Your insurance payment that the hospital receives will be based on your diagnosis, not on how you stay,” he said. “It won’t cost you more than it would cost you in a semi-private, it’s the same.”

Oberlee loves telling people wherever he goes that these private rooms will be available to everyone.

All-private rooms are important for patient life because they improve clinical outcomes, infection control and make more room for visiting family members to spend the night.

But perhaps the biggest draw for a private room is greater sense of confidentiality, said Stephanie Vallie, MSN, RN, a special instructor of nursing at Oakland University.

Photos courtesy of Barton Malow/Rewold, LLC.

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to keep things confidential when you have someone in the neighboring bed,” she said, “especially if they’re coherent—they’re hearing what’s going on, whether they’re trying to or not.”

Creating more space for healthcare workers ups their efficiency, too, both Oberlee and Vallie agree.

“You (might) have equipment issues or a number of devices that need to be present in the room,” Vallie said, “you’re tripping over cables or an IV pump…space is an issue.”

But through her experience working with patients, there are still drawbacks to privatizing patient rooms—namely in the healing power of socialization.

“Sometimes (patients) will meet someone (in a semi-private room) that they have a lot in common and it will help get them through the treatment or the stay in the hospital,” Vallie said, “so there are some things that we’re going to be missing, too.”

For now, Oberlee says he doesn’t foresee any further expansions at Crittenton and the team is on-schedule to wrap up in October.

For more information, please visit www.Crittenton.com.

“Here in Michigan, I frequently see patients with skin cancer, and that’s a shame because it is a largely preventable condition,” says Dr. Matthew Davis, Chief Medical Executive with the MDCH. “Be sure to limit direct exposure to the sun for everyone between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and remember that adults and children should put on sunscreen frequently to stay safe from the sun’s rays. It’s important that adults protect themselves and teach their children healthy habits to reduce the risk of skin cancer.”

Michigan residents are encouraged to seek shade, especially in the middle of the day, and cover up with clothing to protect as much skin as possible. Be sure to apply sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and wear sunglasses. Sunscreen doesn’t protect the skin from all ultraviolet or UV rays, so it is not encouraged to use sunscreen as a way to stay out in the sun longer. Protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days because UV rays also travel through clouds. Avoid other sources of UV light as well, including tanning beds and sun lamps.

Risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include:

• Unprotected and/or excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (sunlight or tanning beds).
• Pale skin (easily sunburned; doesn’t tan much or at all; natural red or blond hair).
• Occupational exposures to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium.
• Family or personal history of skin cancers.
• Multiple or unusual moles.
• Severe sunburns in the past.

Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your physician:

• Any change on your skin, especially in the size or color of a mole, growth, or spot, or a new growth (even if it has no color).
• Scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or a change in the way a bump or nodule looks.
• The spread of pigmentation (color) beyond its border, such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark.
• A change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain.

For more information about skin cancer prevention, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/sunanduvexposure/skin-cancer-facts.

Warmer weather means the lawn watering season is upon us. The City would like to remind residents of the Outdoor Watering Ordinance which permits the use of automatic irrigation systems to the hours of Midnight through 5:00am only.

“While the City has been successful in minimizing DWSD’s rate increases by shifting the peak hour water usage from 7am to 5am, there is always room for improvement and this year we are taking it one step further,” states Mayor Bryan K. Barnett.

“We are now asking that businesses and residents delay the start of their watering systems by 15, 30 or 45 minutes past the top of the hour, states Allan Schneck, Director of Public Services. “This strategy will decrease the sudden pressure drops within the DWSD delivery systems to Rochester Hills and provide a more consistent pressure to our customers.

 DWSD takes pressure readings at the top of the hour and has observed sudden pressure drops in their distribution system as the majority of sprinkler systems start up at the same time. That is where the residents and business can help. By staggering the start of automatic or programmable sprinkler systems, as well as starting them earlier, residents can have a positive effect in reducing the “off-peak” demand which can help sustain current water rates.

“To make it easier on our residents, we have divided the city into quadrants and are encouraging everyone to take note of their location and the recommended start time for outdoor watering,” states Schneck.

As seen over the last few years, the city’s water ordinance campaign consists of visual reminders throughout the community reminding each person to do their part. For additional information regarding the outdoor watering restrictions or to view the quadrant map, visit www.rochesterhills.org/watering or contact the Department of Public Services at (248) 656-4685.

By Michael Dwyer

Dress Rehersal for “The Good Person of Szechwan” with Full Impact Theater

The Good Person of Szechwan

Bertolt Brecht wrote “The Good Person of Szechwan” between 1939 and 1943 while in exile from Germany during World War II. It made its debut on February 4, 1943, at the Schauspielhaus Zurich, in Zurich, Switzerland. Considered one of the best epic plays by Brecht because of its universal themes and the way it challenges the audience.

The first English-language version of the play came to the United States in 1948 and the Brecht parable continues to be a popular and regular production. Now, Rochester area residents have the opportunity to explore “how to be a good person in and imperfect, money-centered, class-divided world” at the Older Persons’ Commission (OPC).

Kayla of Rochester on stage at the OPC in a dress rehearsal for “The Good Person of Szechwan”

Full Impact Theater

The award-winning 4-H club in 2000 moved on to become the Michigan Youth Theater 2001, both founded by Dr. Lisa Hodge Kander. They were approved for their non-profit status in 2005.

“We changed our name to Full Impact Theater in the spring of 2012, but our mission remains the same—to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in youth ages 12 to 19 through theater production experiences while providing professional quality, classics-based live theater experiences and education for community schools and audiences of all ages.”

Retired in 2011, Dr. Lisa Hodge Kander returns to direct this production of Brecht’s “The Good Person of Szechwan.” “Brecht’s story of Shen Teh, a good person in a hard world, has haunted me for years. It is both timeless and especially timely today,” says Kander, “Teens are wrestling with the very questions this play faces.”

This Weekend Only

Students from private, public and home schools come together to present their production of Bertolt Brecht’s epic parable. The teens are from Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Twp., Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Pontiac, Waterford and Clarkston.

Rochester Area teens, Peyton, Phoenix, Holly, Lainie, Kayla and Nathalie perform in The Good Person of Szechwan

The Good Person of Szechwan

By Bertolt Brecht

Directed by Dr. Lisa Hodge Kander

Friday, May 17, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 18, 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19, 2:00 p.m.

General Admission – $10 ($12 at the door)
Seniors and Students – $8 ($10 at the door)

Doors open at 6:30 for evening shows and 1:30 for matinees. Seating is general, first come first serve.

Summer 2013

Full Impact Theater will be performing The Two Gentlemen of Verona this summer as part of its “Shakespeare-in-the-park” series at the Rochester Municipal Park.

More information available at www.FullImpactTheater.org

Michael Dwyer is a freelance writer and travel columnist. Michael writes about happenings in the Rochester area, travels across Michigan and destinations around the world. Contact him at Michael@RochesterMedia.com

1. Forgive. It isn’t hard for me to forgive my children, but it sure is hard for me to forgive myself. When I lose my temper or make the wrong decision, I apologize but then spend the rest of the day mentally berating myself for my mistake. Unfortunately, I also tend to verbally berate myself and my children notice. This is no example of forgiveness! It is so hard to understand the depth of God’s forgiveness and how He forgives and forgets. He doesn’t remind us of our mistakes, but He forgets them instead. It’s hard to grasp that concept, but I need to try harder to model that for my children. I need to move on and try not to get stuck on my mistake because that doesn’t bring healing or correction to the situation. It brings doubt and a bad attitude.

2. Offering Gifts. My son is really into bringing me gifts right now. It’s a big step when children stop being so egocentric and actually have a thought about another human. The gift giving started with pinecones and rocks and he’s now moved onto flowers, sticks and pretty much anything else he can dig up outside. I try so hard to accept these gifts gracefully because I want Ayrton to understand that his gifts are important to me because he thoughtfully chose them for me. I want him to understand that I appreciate his time to get me this gift. The same goes when we offer up our gifts to God. He accepts any gift, no matter the size, shape, amount or form. When it comes from the heart and is meant to please God then we’ve given the best gift we can give. I put a glass jar in my dining room and it’s filled with pinecones, rocks and sticks. Every time I see it, I’m reminded of Ayrton’s generosity and thoughtfulness. I pray that one day he’ll offer up his gifts to God as well.

 Accepting Ayrton’s gift gracefully also teaches him to accept gifts gracefully from others. It’s so embarrassing to hear your child say, “I already have this!” or “Eww!” or “Why did you give me this?” when opening gifts at a birthday party or at Christmas. However, if that’s how I respond to Ayrton’s gift that he gives me then I’m teaching him that it’s perfectly acceptable to criticize someone else’s gift to him. Hopefully in time, he’ll learn to smile and say thank you.

3. Speak gently. I speak pretty gentle most of the time. Except before coffee and right before nap. That’s always the hardest. And when I’m making dinner… and during bath… and right before bed. Ok, so I’m not that good at it. In my defense, Ayrton talks A LOT and if I don’t raise my voice then he won’t even hear me because he’s chattering on about one thing or another. I know that when you get louder then kids just get louder but when you get quieter then kids get quieter too. It’s just a habit that I really need and want to model for my children. I want to help them understand that God will speak to them in a still, small voice one day and they need to be able to hear it. They need practice to notice that it’s quiet and that the quietness means something. Just like the mom of a three-year-old knows that quietness means something (like crayon on the walls or 12 rolls of toilet paper unrolled to make a road on a bedroom floor). I want my children to understand that they will need to quiet themselves in the presence of God to be able to hear what He is saying to them.

It is a lot of pressure to be a parent. Being a mother has brought so much joy to my life but I would be kidding myself if I said it was easy or fun all the time. When I feel discouraged or disappointed in myself I need to look to my Heavenly Father and how He parents me. I need to mimic these traits and strive to point my children in the direction of the everlasting love of Christ. I am my children’s first teacher and want to do my best to shine God’s light into their lives. I can’t do that if I’m unforgiving, criticizing their thoughtfulness or yelling at them. I pray you consider your parenting skills and compare them not to the world but to God. Obviously we will never be perfect but we can try with all our might to imitate Christ and His patience and peace.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and the county’s Community & Home Improvement Division are hosting the workshop being presented by the Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit. “Fair housing laws ensure that all have access to the American dream of owning their own home,” Patterson said. “It is important for housing practitioners to know the law and their responsibilities in order to prevent housing discrimination.”

Topics include federal, state and local fair housing laws, fair housing legal cases and reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Information about housing assistance programs and other resources will be available. Realtors, bankers, community developers, housing counselors, case managers, and those generally involved in the sale, rental, financing and advertising of housing will benefit.

Marketing Your Business

Wednesday, June 5, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The course presents practical applications of marketing concepts designed to help small businesses grow. It covers basic marketing tools including market analysis and research, target marketing, assessing competitors, and key marketing implementation tools. A strategic, well-planned approach to marketing is demonstrated with several examples of effective hands-on marketing techniques.

Fee: $40 per person

Financial Management

Thursday, June 6, 9:00 a.m. to noon

As an introductory seminar, the course covers the basics of financial management, including how to start an accounting system and how to apply the information from key financial statements to help you manage your business. Accounting language including debits and credits, preparation of the balance sheet and profit and loss statement are explained. Cash flow analysis and breakeven are also covered with specific small business examples.

Fee: $40 per person

Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion

Thursday, June 6, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Thinking of starting a business and want to research your business idea? Do you want to identify market trends and opportunities to grow your sales? Are you looking for new customers or to diversify your market  base? Business research shows you ways to find your ideal customers, your competitors, perform competitive analysis and more. Presented by Oakland County Market Research and an Oakland County Public Library business reference librarian.

Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.

Venture Plan | 10-Week Series

Tuesday, June 11 – Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

No class July 2

Your application must be submitted and approved prior to registration.

Venture Plan is an intensive 10-week program that helps evaluate business opportunities and develop an action plan for owning or growing a business. This program offers essential business information to help develop entrepreneurial skills and build your business on a strong foundation or help to prepare for expansion. The program utilizes text and online training materials from a nationally-recognized program proven through use with thousands of businesses.

Fee: $140 per participant. Thanks to sponsor support, the cost is reduced from $700.

CEED Microloan Orientation

Wednesday, June 12, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Many small businesses face obstacles when trying to obtain a business loan. The recognition of the serious need for working capital for existing businesses, start-up or expansion, equipment purchases, and job creation is not the priority it once was. If you have a need for alternative financing consider the Microloan Program. Discover the requirements and process necessary to apply and obtain a microloan.

Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.

Facebook for Business (Beginner)

Wednesday, June 12, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Introduction to Social Media Marketing and using Facebook for Business. Millions of people are using Facebook and social media for fun, but it is also a powerful business tool that can connect you with your customers, potential customers and the world. Before you jump in and start using social media, learn how to get these results with an introduction to social media marketing and Facebook for business.

Fee: $40 per person

Starting a Business

Thursday, June 13, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

An introductory session delivered in a workshop format, the course helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company as well as evaluate market and sales potential for their products. The basics of business ownership are introduced, along with resources available to help launch new ventures in Michigan.

Fee: $30 per person.

 Quickbooks Essentials (Parts 1 and 2)

Thursday, June 13, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, June 13, 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This introduction to small business financial management provides an overview of accurate record keeping and report interpretation and utilization.

Part 1 will cover basic accounting terminology, new company file setup, customizing forms and letters, and working with bank accounts.

Part 2 will cover invoicing customers, receiving payments and making deposits, entering and paying vendor bills and more.

Cost: Attend both sessions for $75 per person or attend one session for $40 per person.

Facebook for Business (Intermediate)

Wednesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Create your Facebook Strategy. In this intermediate session of Facebook for Business, establish your social media objectives and goals for Facebook. Learn core strategies and tactics businesses are using to get customers talking on Facebook, how to use social media management tools for Facebook, how to schedule posts in advance, and more.

Prerequisite: Facebook for Business (Beginner)

Fee: $40 per person

Health Care Reform and Small Business

Thursday, June 20, 9:00 a.m. to noon

Learn about health care reform legislation and how it will affect all business owners. The workshop covers tax penalties, small business credits, small business wellness program grants (small and large wellness program grants), full-time employee status compliance and all health care reform changes that will be implemented next year. It also covers the health care exchanges, how to talk to your employees, the individual mandate, and what this all means for you as a business or as an individual. Business owners (large or small businesses) or human resources directors should attend.

Fee: This workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.

Writing a Business Plan

Thursday, June 20, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Designed for individuals who want to increase their chances for successful self-employment, the course covers business planning in detail. Specifics of marketing and finance, legal and regulatory issues, operations, and information-based planning and management are key components of the workshop. The first steps for creating a business plan draft will be included along with a demonstration of the MI-SBTDC online business plan tool.

Fee: $40 per person

Facebook for Business (Advanced)

Wednesday, June 26, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Create and Launch your Facebook Campaign. In this advanced session of Facebook for Business you will establish objectives and goals for a Facebook campaign, and create and launch a Facebook campaign. Explore ways to take Facebook beyond social media marketing, learn how to run effective Facebook promotions and/or sweepstakes that meets Facebook’s rules and guidelines, and much more.

Prerequisites: Facebook for Business (beginner) and Facebook for Business (intermediate)

Fee: $40 per person

Future Workshops:

July 2013

10:            Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion

17:            CEED Microloan Orientation

17:            Writing a Business Plan

30:            Legal and Financial Basics for Small Business

August 2013

7:            Marketing Your Business

8:            Business Research – Feasibility to Expansion

8:            Team SBA Financing Roundtables

14:            CEED Microloan Orientation

14:            Starting a Business

21:            Writing a Business Plan

The Good Neighbor Award program was created by the CBC to allow residents of Rochester to nominate an adult or youth for their good neighbor work. The award recognizes the ongoing efforts of Rochester residents who are making exceptional contributions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. The program is designed to honor those who make a difference in our community without seeking or receiving recognition for their service.

Karen was nominated by her husband, Vincent Sadovsky for her efforts at the Rochester Hills Public Library gardens. According to Vincent, “shortly after starting a job at the Library, Karen made inquiries about the large perennial garden. Often while at the library she viewed the garden and wondered if anyone if anyone was taking care of it. After speaking with Christine Hage, the Library Director, she decided to volunteer her time. Karen started taking care of the garden in 2009 through 2012 investing about 80 hours each year. Each week she would edge, weed, transplant, thin out, feed and plant.”

“Because of her efforts the perennial gardens began to flourish.  In 2011 the library received a Keep Michigan Beautiful award for the perennial gardens,” Vincent continued “She volunteered because she saw a need. She does it because she loves the beauty of this garden and the joy if brings to others.”

The Rochester City Beautiful Commission was proud to present Karen with her award at the May 13^th City Council meeting.

If you know someone who goes the extra mile to keep our city beautiful or helps a neighbor in need and feel this person deserves to be recognized for their contribution in the city, then fill out a nomination form and turn it in, it is that easy! Our city is beautiful because of the many good neighbors who continually go above and beyond! It is time to recognize those who make every day in Rochester a more beautiful day.

Those selected will be recognized quarterly at a City Council meeting. If you would like more information please contact Ann Peterson, City Beautiful Commission Secretary at 248-495-8877 or visit www.rochestermi.org/cbc for a Good Neighbor Award nomination form.