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Sense of Community

Community Events

MSU Tollgate Open House, Garden Walk and Quilt Exhibit

The MSU Tollgate Gardens have over 20 individual gardens to view, including a rose, hosta, orchard, rain garden and xeriscape. Workshops and tours will be conducted throughout the day. Quilts, created by local artists will be displayed in the gardens. MSU Master Gardeners will be on-hand to answer your garden questions. Free admission and refreshments are available. Tollgate is located on the NW corner of 12 Mile and Meadowbrook Road. For more information visit, www.tollgate.msu.edu or call 248 347. 3860 ext. 251

Price: Free Community Event
Location: MSU Tollgate Education Center (12 Mile and Meadowbrook Rd.)

Michigan Mountain Bike Association Race

The Michigan Mountain Biking Association along with Team Tree Farm/Dark Horse Racing presents a unique 4-person sprint relay race. The course will be 10 miles long and include single track and wider double track that provides plenty of passing room. There will be classes for Sport and Advanced level riders and Men’s, Women’s and Co-ed divisions within each class. This is a perfect race for the beginner looking to see what team / endurance racing is all about and for experienced racers looking to test their skills against rival teams. The profits from the race will benefit the Michigan Mountain Biking Association and help to provide continued improvements to the trails at Lakeshore Park. For more information email race@teamtreefarm.com or visit www.teamtreefarm.com

Price: Pre-registration: $100 per team at www.active.com
          Day-of: $125 per team
Location: Lakeshore Park

Fall Family Camp Out

It’s the second annual Fall Family Camp Out! In 2008 over 30 families and 4 Scout troops enjoyed an overnight camping festival at lakeshore Park! Camping is one of America’s greatest outdoor pastimes and now you can enjoy it in you own backyard. Campers will be able to participate in climbing walls, fishing activities, geocaching poker runs, scout demonstrations, sand volleyball, horseshoes, kids crafts & games, miles of hiking and biking trails and of course - marshmallow roasting, s’mores, campfire songs and acoustic music! Campers will also ‘rise and shine’ to a campers breakfast! Additional information: For those who only want to participate in Friday activities from 6-10pm can pay a $5 per car at the entrance. Novi Parks requires adult supervision in all tents. Pre-Registration REQUIRED for Overnight Camping.

Price: Res. Online $30 / Office $35 for a family of 6, $5 per additional guest
          Non-Res. Online $36 / Office $41 for a family of 6, $5 per additional guest
Evening Activities Only: Fri, September 25, 6-9pm, all ages
          (no pre-registration required)
Price: $5 per car for activities only
Location: Lakeshore Park

International Flair - Calling all Countries

The International Flair, in combination with the City’s Fall for Novi open house, was such a great success in 2008, that is back for 2009! There is no better way to learn about your community and the cultures in the area than this! Come celebrate a melting pot of cultures while visiting country booths (16 in 2008), viewing cultural performances, tasting food and participating in various activities. If you would like to represent a country at a booth and learn about what is involved, please contact the Novi Parks Office at 248-347-0400 for more information.

Price: Free Community Event
Location: Novi Civic Center

Sizzling Summer Arts Series (SSAS)

No need to travel far to have a great time! Bring your blanket, family and friends to our Sizzling Summer Arts Series. From movies under the puppets and music in the parks, these “sizzling” performances provide a variety of entertainment all summer long! Perfect for you, no matter what age you are. Come out and be a part of the excitement, FREE entertainment and great outdoors in Novi’s beautiful parks. Food vendors will be onsite at each performance with great eats to feed your family at a minimal cost, so you don’t even need to worry about a meal. Come on, make some memories this summer that will last forever! Additional Information: Please call the Novi Parks hotline at 248-347-0473 for weather updates.

Take a musical journey around the world, right here in Novi. Enjoy free concerts Thursday nights in the Park from around the world. These concerts will take you to the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, and the Far East. Bring your family and dance to the songs together. Crafts and activities will be available for kids of all ages at each event.

American Extravaganza!:
Cirque Amongus and Novi Concert Band

Prepare to be amazed as professional circus artists perform for you. This show is a surprising combination of comedy, circus skills and audience participation that is sure to amaze and delight audiences of all ages. Also, be dazzled as the Novi Concert Band performs family-fun songs that are truly American.

Date	Day	Time
Jul 9	Thu	7pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Spicy Latin Night: Tumbao Salsa

Bring your dancing shoes and be prepared to shake your hips as you listen to the Latin rhythms of Tumbao Salsa. Dance along to the music as a professional pair of salsa dancers lead you through basic moves.

Date	Day	Time
Jul 30	Thu	7pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Cultural Fusion: Zebula Avenue

Get your groove on as you enjoy this unique blend of world music – African Rhythms, soulful harmonies and urban guitars. This world music band performs (and composes) a truly global blend of melodies. The backgrounds of the individual members range from African drumming to jazz, New Orleans music, and Celtic sounds.

Date	Day	Time
Aug 13	Thu	7pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Japanese Summer Celebration: KoNami
Japanese Ensemble

Celebrate Japanese culture with this all female group. Experience traditional Japanese Summer festival activities such as goldfish catching, paper boat making, and other games.

Date	Day	Time
Aug 27	Thu	7pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

 

Bring your lawn chair as you watch these movies under the stars on a HUGE inflatable movie screen that is 15 feet tall! Prior to each movie enjoy games and crafts.

Shark Tale

Date	Day	Time
Jul 17	Fri	8pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Viewer’s Choice

Come and watch the movie YOU have selected! To vote for the movie that will be shown on this evening, take this survey. Votes will be tallied and the final selection will be made on July 31.

Date	Day	Time
Aug 21	Fri	7:30pm

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park or Fuerst Park - Final location information will be posted here

 

Bring the kids and enjoy games, activities and interactive, fun puppet shows Tuesday mornings in the park.

Pippin’s Puppets

Date	Day	Time
Jul 28	Tue	10am

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Brad Lowe’s Fantasy E-Fex Puppets

Date	Day	Time
Aug 25	Tue	10am

Price: No Charge
Location: Lakeshore Park

Involvement Opportunities

Handicap Patrol

The Novi Police Department is looking for volunteers to help patrol the parking lots within the City of Novi to ensure handicapped parking spots are available for those who need them. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid Michigan driver’s license, pass a background test, and be able to calmly handle situations with an understanding of the rules and regulations of the programs. Click here for more information on the Handicap Patrol, or contact the Novi Police Department at 248-348-7100.

Connecting with the Community

Boards, Commissions and Committees

Do you want to become involved in the City of Novi’s decision making process? If you do, you may want to pursue becoming a Board, Commission or Committee member. The City of Novi offers 13 different Boards or Commissions for which you may apply. Anyone interested in applying for membership to Novi’s boards, commissions or committees should complete an application and return it to the City Clerk’s office. The application is then forwarded to City Council for their review and eventual appointment decision. These reviews take place three times per year at special council sessions that are listed in the City calendar. For more information on Boards and Commission click here,  or please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 248-347-0456

Novi Channel 13

Brighthouse subscribers can tune into Channel 13 to find out what is happening in Novi. Channel 13 has something for everybody with Update Novi, Common Knowledge, Faces and Places, Fire House No.VI, Corporate Review, The Briefing Room and Novi Pulse. Channel 13 also carries live broadcasts of Novi City Council meetings and other meetings that make Novi the premier destination in Michigan.

Cityofnovi.org

Are you interested in what the Novi City Council is debating but cannot make it to the meetings or looking for the next great show the Novi Theatres is going to unveil? You can find all of this and much more at cityofnovi.org. Cityofnovi.org contains information about everything you want to know about how our City operates. Register for Parks and Recreation programs online or look at what commercial properties may be available to you, 24/7. City Council meetings are live-streamed and anyone who misses their favorite shows from Channel 13 can view them from cityofnovi.org. Log on to cityofnovi.org today and keep up on all the latest happenings in Novi!

Novi In a Nutshell Quarterly Newsletter

Interested community members may sign up to receive the ENewsletter by clicking here. Subscribers who wish to unsubscribe may do so at any time by following the instructions available in each Novi in a Nutshell edition. For more information, contact the Community Relations office at 248-735-5628.

InvestNovi.org

If you are interested in doing business within Novi, InvestNovi.org is the first place you go. InvestNovi.org is a one-stop shop for anyone who wants to do business in Novi or for businesses which currently call Novi “home.” The website features valuable information such as educational events and workshops, ordinance information, available properties for purchase or lease, and cable television shows which highlight Novi businesses, maps, business resources and much more. For more information, visit InvestNovi.org today!

General Information

Recycling

The City of Novi Public Works Department, in partnership with the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC), is responsible for the maintenance of RRRASOC recycling center located at the Field Services Complex, 26300 Delwal Drive. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 3:30pm and Saturdays from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Novi is a partner in RRRASOC with Farmington, Farmington Hills, South Lyon, Wixom, Southfield and Walled Lake. For a list of accepted items or to see a schedule of the 2009 Household Hazardous Waste Days, click here.

Tour Novi

If you are a new resident or would like to learn more about the City of Novi, we are initiating an opportunity for citizens to take a tour of our community. Running roughly 90 minutes, Tour Novi will
include a bus tour of City facilities such as Lakeshore Park, the Fire Stations, the Novi Civic Center, as well as some commercial and industrial highlights. If you would like more information or make a reservation, click here or contact the Community Relations Office at 248-735-5628.

Next Tour Novi:
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
6:00pm - 8:00pm

File of Life

In the event of an emergency where you are unable to communicate with emergency response staff, how will you pass along vital information about allergies or medical conditions? The Novi Fire Department provides an avenue to make sure you can relay important information to rescue personnel with the File of Life. The File of Life is a container that you may put medical information inside and affixes to your refrigerator so emergency response staff can know where to find this crucial information. Click here for more information on the File of Life or please contact the Novi Fire Department at 248-349-2162.

Flood Prevention

Flooding is caused by three sources - when a river or stream exceeds its banks, snowmelt, or ice/debris jams. Flooding can cover many blocks, elevate to four or five feet deep and can come with little warning. Most property in Novi is high enough that it has not flooded in recent years; however this does not mean that it could not be flooded and damaged by floodwaters.

Streams in Novi are smaller and may flood during or after heavy storms. Flooding may also be caused from larger bodies of water, including Walled, Shawood and Twelve Oaks Lakes. The following helpful tips to protect your property:

Check your flood hazard. Flood maps and protection references are available at the Novi Public Library and also in the Community Development Department on the first floor of the Novi Civic Center. Schedule a free property visit with representatives of the Department of Public Services (DPS) to review flood problems and learn the best possible ways to stop flooding and prevent damages. For more information call 248-735-5640.

Do not throw items in ditches or streams. This is a violation of City Ordinance. Grass clippings and branches can accumulate and plug channels. A plugged channel cannot carry water.

If your property is next to a ditch or stream, do your part and keep the banks clear of brush and debris. The City has a stream maintenance program, which can help remove major blockages such as downed trees. Contact DPS for assistance.

Always check with the Community Development Department before you build on, alter, re-grade or fill your property. A permit is required to ensure that projects do not impact other properties. If you see building or filling without a City permit sign posted, contact the Building Department at 248-347-0415.

If you don’t have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage from floods. However, because Novi participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, you can purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

In the event of a flood

• Do not walk or drive through a flooded area.
• Stay Away from power lines and electrical wires. Have your electricity turned off by the Power Company.
• Watch out for animals, especially snakes.
• Look before you step.
• Be alert for leaks.

For more information, call Building Official Charles Boulard at 248-347-0423

In the know….about H2O

You may have noticed when you received your water bill recently that our water rate has increased. The following information is provided to share how our water rate is determined and what you can do to help reduce our water rate.

Did you know that the City of Novi purchases treated water from Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)? DWSD operates the largest water system in the State of Michigan and supplies wholesale water to 126 communities in southeastern Michigan. By law, DWSD can only recover the cost of service, it cannot make a profit. Therefore, the rate they charge to each community comprises costs for water treatment, energy costs to maintain water pumps, water mains, and storage tanks necessary to transport water to our community, and new and rehabilitative Capital Improvements Projects to replace and maintain aging systems. These costs are divided among their water customers. Each customer’s rate is based on distance from the water treatment plant (Novi is over 50 miles), elevation (it costs more money to pump at higher elevations), the maximum day demand (water usage in a 24 hour period during the summer), peak hour demand (water usage over a one hour period during the summer) and annual water usage.

Did you know that over 75% of the City’s water & sewer budget (excluding depreciation) is for payments to the City of Detroit Board of Water Commissioners and Oakland County Drain for water and wastewater services? Also, the City of Novi has one of the lowest markups on Detroit’s water rate. Our mark up of 17.53% is far below the 125% average markup of most communities.

Did you know that the City is currently working with DWSD to reduce our rate? While we cannot change the distance we are from the water treatment plant or our City’s unique elevation, we can make changes that will impact our max day demand and peak hour demand thereby reducing the rate we pay to DWSD. By working together as a community, we can make simple changes in our water usage that will have an impact on the water rate charged by DWSD.

While much of the water used during our peak hour and max day is from lawn irrigation, there are many ways you can help. Below are a few water conservation ideas to help any time of the year.

• Limit your water usage during the hours of 5:00am and 9:00am and 6:00pm and 10:00pm when demand on DWSD’s system is the highest (especially during summer months - irrigate your lawns between the hours of 11:00pm and 5:00am).
• Only wash full loads of laundry and save 300-800 gallons per month!!
• Wait until your dishwasher is fully loaded before running. A dishwasher usually uses less water than washing dishes by hand. But if you wash dishes by hand, fill the sink for rinsing, don’t leave water running unless sink is plugged, and turn faucet off when not in use. Water Savings: 2.5 gallons per minute
• Water your plants only when needed.
• Check for and fix leaky faucets and toilets (contact the Water Department for dye strips to test for leaky toilets).
• Toilet ! Trash! Throw that used tissue into the trash instead of the toilet and save 400-600 gallons per month!
• Soap, Rinse, and Go! Keep showers to less than 10 minutes. Water Savings: up to 700 gallons per month. Baths/showers can use up to 50 – 100 gallons of water.
• Install water-saving devices on faucets and shower heads. Faucet aerators are incredibly cheap ($2-5), easily installed (think light bulb), and will save 4.7 gallons per day.
• Place plastic jugs filled with sand or stones in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your hands. Water Savings: over 240 gallons per month
• Consider water efficiency – when purchasing new appliances like laundry machines or dishwashers, consider water efficient models. They use up to 40% less water per year.