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Built on Honesty

How one of the area’s few independent HVAC companies is doing business differently Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Darrel Ellis The HVAC industry is increasingly dominated by large, private equity-backed companies. Sul Salam of Temperature Repair is keeping it simple. The Troy businessman is staying independent. For his customers, that means a focus on service, not price. “When a company answers to investors, the pressure may be to grow revenue,” Sul says. “When you’re privately...

Auto + Marine

Integrity Under the Hood

Inside Troy’s Automotive Authority, where trust matters more than the transaction Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Gugel Photography The first thing you notice about Automotive Authority isn’t the shop. It’s the dog. She’s stretched out comfortably near the front, calm but alert, welcoming customers like a familiar host. For one regular customer – Lauren, age 33, professional, perpetually busy – this has become part of the ritual. Lauren brings in her car, settles into the waiting...

Sports + Recreation

Troy Golf Guide

Where Troy golfers go for clubs, coaching, and championship-level play Article and Photography by Cindy Stewart After a cold winter and a wet spring, it's finally golf season in Troy. Here are our best bets for getting ready to drive, chip and putt your way back onto the links. Upgrade Your Style With PXG Detroit PXG, 2830 W. Maple Road (at Coolidge), is committed to making products that improve performance. From clubs to apparel, every innovation should noticeably improve your play and...

Health + Wellness

Kirk Gibson’s New Team

Inside the Detroit Tigers legend’s fight against Parkinson’s and how he’s coaching others through it Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa I’m midstream in conversation with Kirk Gibson when the Detroit Tigers legend suddenly pauses. He’s spotted someone lining up a shot at the pool table on the far side of the room. Gibson offers a quick apology and steps away from the interview. “I need to go show Harry a thing or two,” he says. With that, Kirk is at the table, cue in hand...

Fitness

Reaching Her Peak

Women discover strength, confidence and belonging at Peak Physique Article by Susan Thwing | Photography by Simran Bajwa After surviving thyroid cancer, Lissa Pietrykowski built a women-only training space in Troy where “showing up” is the victory and confidence is the result. Lissa wasn’t trying to create the next trendy fitness concept. She was solving a problem she kept seeing: women wanted to feel stronger, but couldn’t get themselves through the front door of a gym. “Exercise is so...

Beauty

Beauty and Balance, the Art of Intention

This year's Women of Troy spotlights three Leading Ladies shaping the local health and beauty landscape Article by Margaret Meyer Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Harnisha Shah Restoring Balance, Redefining Care For Harnisha Shah, physical therapy is for more than recovery — it’s about restoring confidence in the body. But it's her personal experience that gives her work deeper meaning. During her postpartum journey, Harnisha developed a personal understanding of the physical and...

Entertainment

Where Music Lives

Audrey Ray writes in the language of feeling – soft, sincere and impossible to ignore Article by Todd Haight | Photography by Simran Bajwa Some songs don’t start with melody. They begin with a feeling you can’t quite name. For Audrey Ray, music often arrives that way, from memories that refuse to dissolve. “I always go to music at defining moments of my life,” she says. “After a sad experience or heartbreak, I write it down. I know I can translate it into a song.” That instinct makes sense...

Style + Beauty

Invest in STYLE

Four timeless fashion investments that will make a statement, from the personal stylists at the Somerset Collection. Article by Lynne Konstantin Kelley Muzingo @adornedbykelley THE PERFECT BAG “This spring, I’m investing in a medium-sized tan suede everyday handbag. It’s the one color I’m missing, and I think it will be the perfect addition to my lighter color palette.”   Merna Makdisi @ablondestyling MIDWEST MUST-HAVE “Whether going out casually or running errands, a...

Real Estate

Sun, Sand & Smart Money

The Caribbean real-estate play is a luxury vacation that pays for itself. Article by Todd Haight There’s a particular moment in every Michigan winter when the fantasy becomes practical. It’s not just I want sun. It’s I want a place. A place to return to each year, to share with family, to grow as a real asset. Something that can work for you even while you’re not there. For Troy-area buyers who have looked at Florida or Arizona and recoiled at the new reality — climate, insurance, HOA...

Entertainment

The People's Orchestra

The Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra celebrates 20 years of building unity, community and glorious music. Article by Susan Thwing Yes, Virginia — Troy really does have its very own symphony orchestra. For the Troy Metro Symphony Orchestra (troymetro.org), classical music has never been about tuxedos, ticket prices or hushed halls. For 20 years, it has been about people, musicians and audiences alike, coming together around music as a shared, communal experience. “This orchestra really started...