BROOKLYN NINE-NINE ACTOR
MARC EVAN JACKSON WITH SNOW ANGEL
Where Strong Women Drive Every Closing
Close Anytime Anywhere
From the first conversation to final signature, the women of Vanguard Title deliver precision, professionalism and confidence with every real estate transaction – raising the standard and ensuring every client experience is seamless.
This month, we celebrate the women who make it possible. Strong women. Strong service. Strong results.
ALISHA STAMBAUGH
MONICA AHRENS
CHRIS KASS
DIANA PRESS CLOSING MANAGER
Kids & Pets: Little Moments That Shape a Lifetime
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is an experience they'll remember for the rest of their lives.
Sometimes that experience is meeting a rescue dog that teaches compassion. Sometimes it's climbing into the cockpit of an airplane and imagining what life might look like from 5,000 feet. Sometimes it's simply spending an afternoon exploring our own community together.
These moments may seem small at the time, but they're often the ones that spark lifelong passions and become the stories families tell for years.
This month's Kids & Pets issue celebrates those experiences. Beginning with a stunning photo essay by pet photographer Christine O'Brien, whose portraits of celebrities with rescue pets have helped countless animals find loving homes.
You'll meet the trainers at The Dog Wizard, where dogs and their owners learn to better understand one another so they can enjoy life together.
We'll also take you inside Victor's Aviation, where young students are becoming tomorrow's pilots.
Topping it off, we'll share some favorite family-friendly adventures around West Bloomfield, recommended by WB Parks, to help make the most of these final weeks of summer.
It's easy to get caught up in schedules. But childhood doesn't wait. It's here now, and then it's just a memory.
I hope this issue encourages you to carve out a little extra time for an adventure, a conversation, a visit to the animal rescue shelter or a walk through one of our amazing WB Parks.
These are the moments our children remember long after summer has ended.
Cheers!
TODD HAIGHT, PUBLISHER
August 2026 Visit our Instagram
PUBLISHER
Todd Haight | todd.haight@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Margaret Haight | margaret.haight@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Allison Sommerville allison.sommerville@citylifestyle.com
Jessica Parsons | jessica.parsons@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Abby Burgess, Kristen Hafner, Cheryl Parton
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Simran Bajwa, Janie Jones, Christine O'Brien, WB Parks
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
With City Lifestyle’s co-branded print + digital packages, your business captures attention wherever our community is looking. Build unmatched local credibility on the page, and drive immediate action online.
Photography: Christine O’Brien
business monthly
It's Time To Focus On Your Health
When the kids head back to school, that's the perfect time to focus on your own health. Throughout August, LIFT Training in West Bloomfield is offering its "Back To School, Back To You" special – six private personal training sessions for $700. The program begins with a complimentary consultation to discuss your goals and create a personalized fitness plan. Call LIFT Training at (248) 775-7348 to schedule your consultation.
Scan to read more
Expanded Mental Health Care Comes To West Bloomfield
Joy Family Center has opened a new mental health practice in West Bloomfield, expanding access to therapy, psychiatric medication management and psychological assessments for children, teens and adults. Created to help reduce long wait times for care, the welcoming neighborhood practice is committed to providing timely, compassionate support close to home. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (734) 531-9525 or visit JoyFamilyCenter.com .
Degree Wellness Opens in West Bloomfield
Degree Wellness has opened its newest wellness and recovery studio in West Bloomfield, offering a range of services including cryotherapy, infrared sauna, red light therapy, IV therapy, cold plunge, compression therapy and more. The studio helps you improve recovery, performance and overall well-being through science-backed therapies. The new studio is located at 7330 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield. For more details or an appointment, call (248) 985-9882 or visit DegreeWellness.com . Scan to read more
Photography by LIFT Training
Photography by Joy Family Center
Photography by Degree Wellness
WDIV-TV 4 Anchor Priya Mann with Aurath from Detroit Animal Care and Control/Friends of DACC
BY R. TODD
WITH THE HELP OF A HOST OF CELEBRITIES, CHRISTINE O'BRIEN'S PHOTOGRAPHS SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON RESCUE PETS WAITING FOR A HOME.
FAMOUS FACES. SECOND CHANCES.
Every shelter has them.
The dog that quietly watches families walk past.
The cat that has waited so long, volunteers wonder if anyone will ever choose her. Christine O’Brien has met hundreds. And every time she raises her camera, she hopes to change the ending.
Trial Attorney and Law Firm Owner Mike Morse with Genevieve from Michigan Humane
As the pet photographer behind Ruff Life Photography, Christine has spent nearly two decades proving that one beautiful portrait can help someone fall in love with a pet before they ever meet.
What began as a passion has become a calling, helping countless rescue animals find families through the power of photography.
“Christine is a true hero in the animal welfare community,” says Tara Tomcsik-Husak, founder of The Feline Fund. “Not only does she donate her talents, but she raises funds for so many rescues, giving pets a better chance at finding loving homes.”
Her latest project – created with Tomcsik-Husak and Premier Pet Supply owner Mike Palmer – pairs local celebrities with adoptable rescue pets from shelters across southeast Michigan. The recognizable faces invite people to stop scrolling. The animals do the rest.
“Creating the artwork is fun, but knowing these collaborations help save lives, that’s why I do it,” Christine says.
CREATING THE ARTWORK IS FUN, BUT KNOWING THESE COLLABORATIONS HELP SAVE LIVES, THAT'S WHY I DO IT.
WDIV-TV 4 Reporter
Shawnte Passmore with Versace from Happy Paws Haven
Comedian and Actor Marc Evan Jackson (Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn NineNine, The Good Place) with Snow Angel from Friends for Animals Metro-Detroit
Among those lending their support is pastry chef Callie LaPorta, who recently adopted a rescue cat with her husband, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. She and her miniature Bernedoodle, Bonnie, also volunteer together as a therapy dog team at Henry Ford Hospital, proving animals have the remarkable ability to comfort and connect.
The campaign also features actor Marc Evan Jackson, attorney Mike Morse, chef James Rigato, television personalities Priya Mann, Kim DeGiulio, Shawnte Passmore and Stephanie Mead, composer Jake Bass, celebrity stylist Katrina Malota and many other familiar faces, all donating their influence to help rescue animals find homes.
The portraits were brought to life with many contributions: Hair and makeup by Katrina Malota and her team from Salon 6, Birmingham. Dresses by Peacock Room Detroit. Leather Pet Bowties by Pingree Detroit. Collars by Glimmer Collars of Birmingham. Jewelry for Kim DeGiulio by Rebel Nell Spellbound Collection. Extraordinary locations include Globe Tobacco Building, Dequindre Cut Greenway, Planet Ant Hamtramck, State Savings Bank.
As you turn the page, remember that while these featured pets have found homes, countless others are still waiting for theirs. We hope you will visit one of the featured rescue organizations or support their mission through fostering, volunteering or donating.
Detroit Composer and Producer Jake Bass with Nelson from District 5 Animal Alliance
WDIV-TV 4 Reporter Kim DeGiulio with Candy Corn from Detroit Animal Care and Control
Celebrity Stylist and Hair Designer Katrina Malota with kittens from Happy Paws Haven
Model and Stylist Briana Battiste with Bonnie from Detroit Animal Care and Control
Award-Winning Chef James Rigato with Onyx from Rebel Dogs Detroit
CHRISTINE IS A TRUE HERO IN THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMUNITY. SHE RAISES FUNDS FOR SO MANY RESCUES, GIVING PETS A BETTER CHANCE AT FINDING LOVING HOMES.
Classically Trained Pastry Chef Callahan LaPorta with Junie B from Happy Paws Haven
ARTICLE BY KRISTEN HAFNER
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Beating the Dog Days of Summer with a Canine Treat
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup of plain, unsweetened yogurt (or dogsafe yogurt alternative)
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened, plain applesauce
• 1/4 cup of water or low-sodium chicken broth
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Mix the yogurt, applesauce, and water or chicken broth in a bowl until well combined.
2. Pour the mixture into ice cube trays or silicone molds.
3. Freeze for several hours or until solid.
4. Serve the frozen treats to your dog to help them cool off!
PUP -SICLE
As we all try to stay cool during the scorching dog days of summer, our furry friends need a break from the heat too. Pamper your pup with a refreshing “pup-sicle.” These dog-friendly frozen treats are sure to make your canine companion’s tail wag!
ARTICLE BY R. TODD HAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMRAN BAJWA
HAPPY Dog,HAPPY HOME
The Dog Wizard shares the magic behind a well-trained dog
Bringing home a new dog comes with dreams of long walks, family adventures and a loyal companion waiting at the door.
Shredded pillows, stolen steaks and nonstop barking? Not so much.
That’s where The Dog Wizard Dog & Obedience Training comes in.
“We don’t just train dogs,” says owner Tim Siedlaczek. “We transform relationships.”
After more than three decades in the pet industry, Tim has seen firsthand how behavioral challenges can strain the relationship between dogs and their owners.
“Behavior is about communication,” he says. “When owners learn how to communicate clearly, you see lasting change.”
Every Dog Wizard journey begins with a free assessment to understand your dog’s behaviors – separation anxiety, leash pulling, excessive barking, fear – and your family’s goals and lifestyle. From there, trainers create a personalized program through private in-home training, day school or the Board and Train program.
Trainer Stewart Marmion has spent nearly seven years helping dogs and their families.
“Dogs are supposed to enrich our lives,” he says. “When behavior gets in the way, both the dog and the owner lose out.”
Tim and Stewart have seen it all. Dogs jumping on people. Owners dragged down the sidewalk by the leash. People worried what destruction waits for them when they got home.
While those are critical to happiness in the home, the work extends beyond teaching obedience commands. At its heart, The Dog Wizard is about helping dogs understand the world around them and what’s expected of them.
And the program isn’t just for puppies. You can teach an old dog new tricks, says Stewart. Even rescue dogs who have experienced trauma.
“It’s all about giving dogs confidence,” he says. “That will transform everything else about a dog.”
Such as Willie, a large rescue dog who had bitten six people before being brought to Tim and Stewart. He showed up wearing a muzzle. Rather than focusing only on obedience, Stewart helped Willie learn to calm himself and cope with stressful situations. Later, at a graduate support class, Willie was comfortably meeting new people – without the muzzle.
Another owner dreamed of having her Golden Retriever become a certified therapy dog. Through private coaching and continued practice, both owner and dog earned their therapy certification and now volunteer together in hospitals, bringing comfort to patients.
Graduation isn’t the end of the relationship. Families receive lifetime support through graduate classes, ongoing coaching and continued guidance whenever new challenges arise, helping reinforce the lessons long after formal training ends.
Tim says those long-term relationships are what make this work worthwhile.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing families enjoy a calm, confident and connected life with their dog,” he says.
For him, success isn’t measured by perfect obedience. It’s seeing families include their dogs in more of life’s moments, from neighborhood walks and restaurant patios to road trips and everyday adventures.
That’s the difference between owning a dog and truly enjoying one.
(248) 927-2044 I TheDogWizard.com
There's nothing more rewarding than seeing families enjoy a calm, confident and connected life with their dog.
Trainer Stewart Marmion runs a training exercise with his dog, Koozie
Tim with Scout
ARTICLE BY ABBY BURGESS, WB PARKS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WB
PARKS
SUMMER
Starts In The PARKS
BUZZ AND FLUTTER AROUND MARSHBANK PARK TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE'S POLLINATORS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THESE CRITTERS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO OUR EARTH.
Summer is at its peak and the fun is amping up at West Bloomfield Parks. Whether you’re looking to spend time in nature, explore a new park or enjoy amazing experiences that create memories to last a lifetime, West Bloomfield Parks offers everything you need to build your perfect family staycation
CONTINUED >
CREATE UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER MEMORIES WITH WEST BLOOMFIELD PARKS, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS FOR EVERYONE.
MAKE A SPLASH AT LILY PAD SPRINGS
Visit Michigan’s largest splash pad right in the heart of West Bloomfield, located at 6200 Farmington Road. Lily Pad Springs is 5,500 square feet of watery fun, with over 50 play features and four water slides – plus a splash bucket that regularly dumps 55 gallons of water.
Open seven days a week with sessions at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and sometimes 6:30 p.m. Tickets at wbparks.org/ lily-pad-springs
TURN UP THE FUN AT OUR KIDS KOMOTION CONCERT
Wrap up summer on a high note with the final Kids Komotion Concert on Thursday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. Enjoy interactive children’s entertainment, free inflatables (socks required), special costumed character visits and more on the concert hill at Marshbank Park. The Optimist Club of West Bloomfield will be on-site selling snacks and refreshments, with all proceeds supporting programs for children in our community. Free. Learn more at wbparks.org/kids-komotion-concerts.
ENJOY TIME ON THE WATER AT OUR FAMILY KAYAK
Discover the fun of kayaking on scenic Middle Straits Lake during this family paddle. Come to Bloomer Park for a family kayak on Thursday, August 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. You’ll complete a brief lesson on how to enter, exit and paddle your kayak. Your guide will be a WB Parks naturalist and all equipment is provided, including life jackets. For ages 8 and up, it’s the perfect family outing to conclude your summer season.
Get your spot before they’re gone at wbparks.org/kayaking
RELEASE LIVE MONARCHS AT BEES, BUTTERFLIES AND BLOOMS
Buzz and flutter around Marshbank Park to learn the importance of nature’s pollinators and how you can help these critters that are so important to our earth. There’s something for all ages at this free Bees, Butterflies and Blooms: Pollinator Festival on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to Noon.
Hands-on activities include:
• Monarch tagging with butterfly release
• Beeswax craft
• Sweep netting to look for native pollinators
• Interactive talks with Bees in the D
• Free native seeds giveaway
Learn more at wbparks.org/event/pollinator-festival
For all the latest updates, follow West Bloomfield Parks and wb_parks on Facebook and Instagram.
Kids Komotion Concert
Bloomer Park Family Kayak
Bees, Butterflies and Blooms: Pollinator Festival
Oakland County DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT OVER
Hidden in plain sight: Victors Aviation's flight school inspires the next generation of aviators.
ARTICLE BY R. TODD HAIGHT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMRAN BAJWA
“Lilliana, turn left heading 270.”
The young pilot gently banks the airplane, lines up with the runway and begins a remarkably smooth descent. Her eyes dart between the windshield and the instrument panel as she makes small corrections, listening carefully to every detail from her flight instructor.
Moments later, the wheels touch down.
Perfectly. Except she isn’t really flying.
She’s one of dozens of children from Troy, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills and other communities attending Victors Aviation’s summer aviation camp at Oakland/Troy Airport. And she’s sitting inside one of the nation’s most advanced FAA-approved flight simulators.
The cockpit is so realistic that within minutes, kids who have never touched an airplane are learning what it feels like to take the controls. For many, it’s the beginning of a dream.
“I’ve wanted to fly for Delta since I was six and that’s what I’m going to do,” says 12-yearold Tristan Lorenz of Troy. His favorite part of camp? “The flight simulator. It feels real because it tilts.”
Peter Kovtun, 9, isn’t convinced he’ll become a pilot someday, but the Troy resident is thoroughly impressed by the simulator.
“It’s almost the same thing as going in a real airplane,” he says.
Then he clarifies, “I’ve ridden in airplanes. I just didn’t fly them.”
Lilliana, from Bloomfield Hills, says the experience has shown her that aviation is about much more than flying airplanes.
“I’m learning things you can’t get from textbooks,” she says. “It makes me realize how many different jobs there are in aviation besides just being a pilot.”
Those moments are exactly why Victors Aviation exists.
The Troy flight school was founded last year by Nathan “Nate” Miller – a retired Marine Corps Colonel and former Blue Angels pilot – along with Mike Roth, Jeff Vlasic and Nicola Reasoner. The mission? Make aviation accessible to anyone willing to learn.
“We’re trying to open that front door to aviation for as many people as we can,” Nate says. “You don’t need an aviation background. Just the desire to fly.”
Campers spend the week learning aerodynamics, aircraft systems and aviation careers before climbing into the school’s Redbird MCX full-motion simulator, where they practice virtual takeoffs and landings from Oakland/Troy Airport while flying above Metro Detroit. They also get to check out the school’s two airplanes.
In April, the school was one of only five flight schools selected for Textron Aviation’s prestigious 2026 Top Hawk program – earning Victors Aviation a factory-new Cessna Skyhawk 172S equipped with Garmin G1000 NXi avionics and advanced safety technology.
“Aviation is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do,” Nate tells his students. “It will teach you responsibility, persistence and self-confidence.”
While this camp is for children, the school serves aviation students of all ages.
Mike, a 68-year-old retired pharmacist, recently enrolled to earn the pilot’s license he’s dreamed about since childhood. While taking his own lessons, he volunteered to help teach simulator sessions during the summer camps.
“I’ve always had an interest in flying,” he says. “I’m retired now, so I have time to do something fun.”
His journey is proof that aviation isn’t just for teenagers pursuing airline careers. It’s for anyone ready to chase a lifelong dream.
“Our first two pilots graduate this summer,” Nate says proudly. “One is 18 years old, the other 65.”
Hidden behind businesses near Maple and Coolidge, Oakland/Troy Airport is easy to miss.
But there, inside a refreshed hangar, dreamers discover new possibilities, retirees check off lifelong bucket-list goals and tomorrow’s pilots take their first steps toward the skies.
2676 Industrial Row, Troy I (248) 750-8900 I VictorsAviation.com
DISCOVER MORE AT THE AUGUST 22 OPEN HOUSE
Interested in learning more? The school will host a free Wings & Wheels Open House on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Explore the airport, meet instructors and check out the amazing flight simulator. It's a great time to discover what it takes to become a pilot. For more about the Open House, visit VictorsAviation.com or call (248) 750-8900.
Summer camper Lilliana "lands" at Oakland/Troy Airport
TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
ON MARRIAGE, KIDS, AND THE COMEDY OF REAL LIFE
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
HAIR & MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
WEDNESDAYS, AUGUST 5TH, 12TH, 19TH & 26TH
Marshbank Music
Summer Concerts
Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield | 5:00 PM
Plan to join these free outdoor concerts featuring live bands, food trucks and family-friendly fun every Wednesday evening throughout August. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Gates open at 5 p.m. Food service from the food trucks begins at 5:30 p.m. and the music starts at 6 p.m. Find the full schedule at WBParks.org
AUGUST 20TH
Kids Komotion Concert: BenJammin
Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield | 10:00 AM
WB Parks hosts this concert featuring interactive children’s entertainment, free inflatables and special costumed characters. The Optimist Club of West Bloomfield will be onsite selling snacks and refreshments, with proceeds supporting programs for children in our community. Socks required for the inflatables and can be purchased for $1 from the Optimist Club inside the MB Lodge Building. Details: Visit WBParks.org
AUGUST 22ND
Bees, Butterflies & Blooms
Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield | 10:00 AM
Learn about pollinators through monarch butterfly tagging and release, beeswax crafts, live caterpillars, swamp netting and native seed giveaways. Free. Details: Visit WBParks.org or call (248) 451-1900.
