Arts + Culture

Master of Arts

Local artist Jeff Jantz combines his love of tinkering and technology to create unique works of art Article by Amy Salvagno | Photography by Kevin Shea Within Jeff Jantz’s imagination, science and art go hand in hand. Left brain and right brain are of the same mind. Screwdrivers and a paintbrush intertwine. The Mount Clemens native and founder of Janzter Studios has spent years perfecting the relationship between nuts and bolts and arts and crafts.  “Art is like a science experiment,” Jeff...

Food + Beverage

Designing Delicious Decadence

A peek inside the craft of a chocolatier Article by Amy Salvagno | Photography by Kevin Shea There is something beautiful about a box of chocolates – the sculpture-like shapes, the delicate details, the galaxy of colors.  And once you understand the mastery required to create this cherubic confection, you can fully appreciate each flavor as it melts on your tongue.  At Champagne Chocolates, owner Anna Rizzo says they focus on pulling out the natural undertones of chocolate. Some are fruity...

Local Services

A Bed All Their Own

One local nonprofit's mission to bring stability to the homeless Article by Amy Salvagno Four years ago, Ashley King received news no mother could imagine: Her 3-year-old little boy, Eddie, had leukemia. Far along in a pregnancy with her second child and at the height of the pandemic, the stay-at-home mom faced added heartbreak. Rather than remain at her son’s bedside while he fought the illness, her doctor asked her to stay away from the hospital to protect her unborn baby. This meant...

Home + Design

Fond Feathered Friends

How to care for wild birds in the bitter winter Article by Amy Salvagno | Photography by Pam Gors As we take time this month to spread kindness and love to those around us, we can’t forget to also care for our feathered friends. Birds bring life to a bleak outdoor winter landscape and provide enjoyment when we take time to sit and observe them.  Yet, while we marvel at the beauty of a snowy day, we may not realize that the harsh winter can pose a challenge to wild birds. The reason these...

Beauty

Celebrate the Beauty of Romance

Article by Amy Salvagno February is for roses and romance, candles and chocolate, sweethearts and suitors. It’s a time to cherish the special love that causes your heart to flutter, whether it has lasted decades or developed within only a few days. No matter who you hold dear, embrace the opportunity to express your affection and appreciation, from a thoughtful gift to an elegant dinner to tenderly-penned prose. In honor of the month of love, we bring you a gem from the local history books: A...

Health + Wellness

Healing From Within

How one therapist’s passion became her life's work and transforms how people heal, inside and out. Article by Amy Salvagno | Photography by Kevin Shea, Callaway Valead   For Susan Laurent, the practice of healing is as natural as breathing. The owner of Natural Healing Therapeutic Massage in Mount Clemens has for the past 16 years restored the quality of life to countless people, relieving pain by solving the root of the problem.    “I want to help people feel alive and be able to live a...

Local Services

Timeless Service

Find personal wellness care at this local pharmacy Article and Photography by Amy Salvagno Long before big-box drug stores were carved out on nearly every corner, neighborhoods trusted the pharmacist next door. The smile behind the counter provided customers with genuine attention and a personal touch – and even the occasional house call. When Matthew Roberts and Anula Thuruthikkara opened the doors to Macomb Pharmacy and Wellness more than three years ago, that nostalgia seemed to walk in...

Professional Services

Resolving Pain at the Root

A doctor's approach to diagnosing and treating chronic facial pain Article by Amy Salvagno | Photography by Kevin Shea Imagine taking for granted countless muscle actions you don’t think twice about – yawning, laughing, chewing, swallowing and even talking. But if you’re one of as many as 12 million people in the United States who experience discomfort in this area, you know just how disruptive it can be to daily activities. You’ve likely seen multiple doctors and dentists, and maybe even...

Food + Beverage

Best Food Forward

Easy-to-make, colorful and nutritious power bowls can start your year out on the right foot. Article by Amy Salvagno Protein power bowls can tip the scales in your favor when it comes to healthy habits in the New Year. With endless combinations and a diversity of ingredients, your palate will be hooked until the last bite.  Local nutrition therapist Sarah Dahlke believes power bowls act as a blank canvas to incorporate as many nutrient-dense ingredients as possible, supplying your body with...

Fitness

Find Your Fitness

Explore best route to get moving in the New Year Article by Amy Salvagno The New Year ushers in a blank slate for success. We look at the untouched landscape of January with fresh eyes and an optimism that sparkles like a fresh blanket of snow. For many, it’s the prospect of a more active lifestyle – and sticking to it. Fitness resolutions can be kept, but the trick is to establish the right ones and make them realistic and achievable. Here's a round-up of fitness avenues in the area to try. ...