Arts + Culture

FALL INTO A GOOD BOOK

Five seasonal stories to encourage young readers Article by Ashley Lesage | Photography by Provided 1. Magic Tree House: Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne Two siblings travel back in time to New Orleans and meet mysterious ghosts. This fun historical fiction chapter book weaves real history into a kid-friendly adventure. 2. Bailey School Kids: Witches Don’t Do Backflips by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones A cute and spooky chapter book about gymnastics students who...

Life + Culture

The Neighborhood Grocer

For four decades, Edward Lefevre’s Cass Avenue grocery was part of everyday Mount Clemens life Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Mount Clemens Public Library Archives Imagine strolling down Cass Avenue in the early 1900s. At 309 Cass, you’d find Edward Lefevre’s grocery store—a neighborhood fixture started around 1899. This wasn’t simply a place to pick up groceries. It was part of the rhythm of everyday life. Lefevre operated the store until his death in 1940, when butcher John...

Food + Beverage

A Spooktacular Dessert Worth Savoring Together

A silky chocolate dessert becomes a playful Halloween scene with cookie dirt and meringue ghosts Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Provided Halloween is the season for a little kitchen magic—and this dessert is almost too cute to eat. Silky chocolate panna cotta becomes a spooky little landscape when tucked into glasses, covered with chocolate cookie “dirt,” and topped with adorable meringue ghosts. It is elegant enough for a Halloween dinner party, yet simple enough to make with...

Arts + Culture

How Lucky: Lessons from Mr. Skelly

A dancing skeleton, a beautiful book, and a gentle reminder to savor the fleeting, extraordinary magic of being alive today Article and Photography by Kimberly Janowicz I first discovered Mr. Skelly videos and Illustrations on Facebook, and I was intrigued. There he was—a dancing skeleton, joyfully moving through meadows, holding hands with Mrs. Skelly and reminding me to enjoy life. It struck me as somewhat odd that a skeleton would prod me to celebrate being alive. But really, who better to...

Home + Design

Fall Of The Wall

For twenty years, Betsy Peters knew she was right. With one call to Cabinetry by Better Bilt, she proved it. Article by Marshall Zweig | Photography by Eston Asher IV, Skyview Experts Betsy Peters knew she was right about the wall. She'd known for years. The wall divided her kitchen from her living room, and it made the house feel smaller than it was. Her husband Ed said it was a load-bearing wall, so it couldn't come down. And besides, Ed liked the house exactly as it was. "I knew he was...

Arts + Culture

THE MASKED AFFAIR

A masquerade. An iconic theater. Incredible food, live music, and one unforgettable evening that's quickly becoming the most stylish ticket of the season. Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Kevin Roberts @FatherPhoto, Michael Pfaendtner Many causes tug at my heart strings. But I'll admit it. When someone asks me to buy a ticket to a fundraiser, my first question isn't,  "What's the cause?"  It's,  "Is this actually going to be fun?"  Every once in a while, an event comes along where...

Life + Culture

Tailored Tradition

A century ago, Mount Clemens merchants built lasting reputations through craftsmanship and timeless men's fashion Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Mount Clemens Public Library Archives Long before department stores and national brands, haberdasheries —offering fine men's clothing and accessories—were a cornerstone of downtown shopping. Boley's Haberdashery at 42 Macomb Street became one of Mount Clemens' best-known men's furnishing stores after Eugene Boley assumed ownership in...

Life + Culture

Before Black Tuesday

Mount Clemens students mastered automotive skills just weeks before history changed America's future forever Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Mount Clemens Public Library Archives In September 1929, students at Mount Clemens High School were learning one of America's most valuable trades. Surrounded by automobiles, machinery, and tools, these future mechanics gained hands-on experience that could lead to careers at local garages, dealerships, or Detroit's booming auto factories. ...

Life + Culture

Wild Wings

How an annual hatching of falcon chicks turned an endangered species into neighbors worth knowing Article by Marshall Zweig | Photography by Make Macomb Your Home Every spring, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel starts a list of nouns. A lake he grew up near. A police partner he loved. They’re for a piece of Macomb County that’s about to take flight. Since 2005, peregrine falcons — once nearly extinct in Michigan — have nested atop the Old County Building in downtown Mount Clemens. Each...

Local Services

Let the Zoomies Begin

A private, air-conditioned playground where dogs run, play, and burn off energy Article by Kimberly Janowicz | Photography by Dusan Petkovic, Jacob Sciacchitano Not every dog is cut out for the dog park. Some are reactive. Some live in apartments or condos without a backyard. Others simply need a safe place to run, play, and burn off energy without the distractions of unfamiliar dogs. That's exactly what inspired Becky Kamp, owner of Wolf Pack Dog Training, to create her private Indoor Dog...