Grosse Pointe Woods to Seek Voter Approval: 1.85 Mill Hike

The Grosse Pointe Woods council will vote on the Headlee Override next week following their decision this week as the committee of the whole. They intend to ask voters for a 1.85 millage increase in November.

The Grosse Pointe Woods committee of the whole made a decision this week regarding a tax increase that must receive voter approval in November under the Headlee Amendment as it will exceed the amount allowed solely under council's descretion. Discussion regarding a millage increase began in December but has evolved in finance committee meetings and most recently in committee of the whole meetings. The council, absent of Vicki Granger and Rich Shetler, voted informally as the committee of the whole to seek a 1.85 millage rate increase for 10 years. In addition, they also voted informallly to seek approval from voters on a road construction millage that would be for $10 million during 10 years. Their informal votes are essentially …

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Grosse Pointe Shores Residents to Vote on Exit of Wayne County

The Grosse Pointe Shores council voted unanimously Tuesday to put an advisory ballot issue on the August primary to determine whether the majority of residents want to leave Wayne County and move to Macomb County.

Grosse Pointe Shores residents will be asked in August to vote about whether they would like their city to secede from Wayne County. Their decision will guide the city council as to whether a committee devoted to studying a move to Macomb County should continue to pursue the idea. The discussion began as an update from the council's Move to Macomb Committee liaison, Dan Schulte, and evolved into a vote from the council to garner a decision from the city's own residents. Schulte said the study has shown that the move would save residents money and potentially improve county services. The estimated savings is about 4 mills, which currently equals about $1.2 million for the city. The savings for a resident owning a home valued at $100,000 …

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About Town

Let Fou d'amour Make You Dinner

Pastry-baking, meal-making duo and their staff turn out fresh-made dinners, carryout casseroles and unforgettable scones from their quaint cafe in Grosse Pointe Park.

If Fou d’ amour, a bakery and café whose recipes wind up on dozens, if not hundreds, of Pointers’ tables each week, had a motto or a tagline there would be no need to take a fancy or French approach. For a business whose name means Crazy in Love, it could be simply: Dinner driving you crazy? Let us handle it! It’s what Michele Makowski and Darcy Towns, partners and co-owners of the bakery, catering and dinner-take out spot that turns five this year, do nearly every day of the week. That is make dinner for someone else, not their own families. Each has two children, each work long days and each would love having a fresh meal ready to go. “We’re crazy in love with what we do,” says Makowski. “We know what we would want to feed our families …

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Where is the Best Place for Sushi?

Vote in the poll, leave a comment below and submit a review to let us know your Readers' Choice pick for the best place for sushi in Grosse Pointe.

GP North Honors Distinguished Alumni

Grosse Pointe North High School honored several alumni a committee deemed distinguished Monday, promoting the alum's professional success to the student body during an assembly.

Grosse Pointe North High School officials recognized several alumni Monday during an assembly with students early in the day and a nighttime reception. The alumni were chosen by a self-created committee who set out to show students all that can be achieved beginning within the hallways and classrooms of the high school, according to one of the committee members and current North employee Judi Preston. After a thorough process, the committee selected the following alumni, featuring them for their success in their respective professions or passions: Carly Piper, class of 2001 Dr. Hans Stricker, class of 1980 Major General Robert Brooks Brown, class of 1977 John J. Ahee, class of 1982 Sandra Joseph, class of 1986 William Babcock, class of …

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New Fees Likely in GP Park's 2012/13 Budget

The Grosse Pointe Park city manager provided details Monday to city council about the 2012/13 proposed fiscal year budget, which does not include any tax increases. New fees are likely, however.

Grosse Pointe Park residents will avoid an increase in property tax rates this year, but they’ll be assessed new fees to cover an increase in water rates and to install new water pumps. Under a budget proposal approved unanimously Monday by the city council, residents will pay $5 every other month for the next two years to pay for the installation two $135,000 water pumps, one this year and one next year. Another $3.28 will be billed to residents every two months to cover an increase in water rates from the City of Detroit Department of Water and Sewerage. City Manager Dale Krajniak presented the budget to council during a public hearing that was attended by only two regular visitors to the meetings and three reporters. Krajniak said the …

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Grosse Pointe Siblings Eager for Crowdfunding

They invented the Gorilla Stand that will hold iPhones or an iPad for movie watching while in bed, on an airplane or even in a hotel room. The trio is trying to raise funding to produce the product with the goal of selling it.

A trio of Grosse Pointe siblings is working to market their invention: the Gorilla Stand, which is a "durable and stylish dual stand to accomodate an iPhone and an iPad (and most tablets)." The project began about a year ago with Lego and Kinnex models and has evolved into a working proteje made out of durable plastic. Ryan Moran, 28, watches a lot of movies on his iPhone in his bedroom before going to sleep, which generated the idea for the invention, he said, explaining he realized he was always holding it up and moving it to make it easier to view. The two leg Gorilla Stand folds flat for easy packing and travel and will sit on the user's lap or on a desk or table top. It also features a sound reflector, which helps amplify the sound of…

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