City Planning Workshop and Playoff Football This Week in Birmingham

City Work Session

The Birmingham City Commission and Birmingham Planning Board will meet for a joint workshop session at 7:30 p.m. at the DPS Facility. Among the agenda items are the downtown Birmingham 2016 plan, requirements for establishments with on-premises liquor consumption, and creating a zoning transition overlay.

Book Battle Begins

The annual Battle of the Books celebration begins Monday in elementary buildings across the Birmingham Public Schools. Students will select their books, which have been kept secret until now in preparation for book clubs that commence in January. Book clubs begin meeting in January and The battles begin in February.

Techner Memorial Parenting Conference 

The Techner family of Birmingham hosts the 31st Annual Alicia Joy Techner Memorial Parenting Conference at at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Actor Don Diamont, of television's The Bold and The Beautiful and The Young & The Restless, will discuss his personal story of overcoming loss and experiencing anti-Semitic bullying as he grew up. The event is free, but registration is required. Contact Stephanie Brovenick at 248-661-5700 or at Stephanie@temple-israel.org.

'Secrets of Happy Families'

Join Bruce Feiler, author of  'Secrets of Happy Families' for a special presentation at 10 a.m. Oct. 30 at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township. Registration is required and open to township residents only. More information is available on the Baldwin Public Library or Bloomfield Township Public Library websites. 

Playoff Football

The Birmingham area will be well represented as the MHSAA football playoffs begin Nov. 1. Birmingham Groves (7-2) and Seaholm (8-1) look to continue their stellar seasons, while Brother Rice High School (9-0) attempts to win its third straight Division 2 title under retiring Head Coach Al Fracassa. Detroit Country Day (6-3) will also try to have an impact in Division 4.