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Welcome to i Metro Magazine iMetro Magazine’s mission is to explore and deliver information that shapes the modern lifestyles of Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair county families. Join us as we discover the local people, places, and trends that shape this area of southeast Michigan. The opinions expressed by our contributors are their own, and other professionals in their field may express different views. We have sought to ensure accuracy and completeness of the information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors. iMetro Magazine has no responsibility or liability for any inaccurate information or placement.
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Staff iMetro Magazine March 2013 Volume 1 Issue 1
Editor In Chief Rose Moceri rose@imetromagazine.com
Editor Cathy Plum Cathy@imetromagazine.com
Contributing Writer’s Cathy Plum
Contributing Photographer’s Todd Schaffer
Creative Director Todd Schaffer todd@excaliburcreativestudios.com
Sales Officer iMetro Magazine, LLC 50490 Central Industrial Dr Shelby Twp, MI 48315 www.imetromagazine.com
2013 i Metro Magazine, LLC is a regisered trademark of iMacomb Media
Rose Moceri rose@imacombmedia.com
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From Inmates To Infants
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Arts/Entertainment
An Entrepreneur Finds His Niches
Charities
Paying It Forward!
Dining Local
Companies giving back to their communities
Education Dodge Ram 1500
Fashion
iBusiness
20 25
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Restaurant Guide
110
Recipes Guide
120
Alternative Medicine
An Entrepreneur Finds His Niches
Grown up Mac & Cheese and Italian Chicken Soup
Technology
2013 Best New Gadgets
iHealth & Science
25
97 16
Events
2013 Truck of the year
97
iDepartments
17
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Arts/Entertainment Day Trips
Trends
40
Acting Randomly
32
The Adverse Effect
Spotlight on local volunteers
Seasonal Sports
60
From Our Neighbors
55
Spring sports and events
Life when adversity stikes at home
What’s happening around us.
iPeople
20
Looking Back
20
Who Knew
iDestinations
Your travel guide to favorite desinations.
A blast from the past
88
20
iRecreation
Facts not commonly known
iHistory & Culture
55
60
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From Inmates To Infants: An Entrepreneur Finds His Niches
A
lthough the phrase “find your niche” is thrown around ad nauseam these days, Sterling Heights entrepreneur Ryan Santangelo says it’s no joke. He’s found three niches of his own. “I know that’s a cliche, but it’s really true,” Santangelo explains. “There’s a market that was being missed, and we came in and filled that hole.” For the last two businesses they started, Santangelo and his brother Pete found similar niches for two very disparate sets of clients: business owners and prisoners. Dynamic Media, which they started in 2004, provides SiriusXM programming to businesses; Secure Media Systems, founded in 2008, provides prison-safe MP3 devices and media download kiosks to inmates. For their latest endeavor, the Santangelos have tapped into an entirely different market: new parents. The new project, a high-tech baby monitor called SafeToSleep, was inspired by Santangelo’s own frustrations as a parent of two. “My brother and I both have kids,” Santangelo says. “We were shocked at how terrible baby monitors were.
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When you go to buy a monitor, it’s really kind of junk, these little walkie-talkie kind of things. And the new monitors are designed around features that are really for the parents, you know: take a highdefinition picture of your baby and post it to Facebook.”
set up a booth with fake babies to demonstrate the technology (“We bought these babies that were designed by this artist, and we basically cut them open and put a device inside that would breathe and make the chest thump,” Santangelo says). Santangelo says the booth drew heavy traffic, which he credits So, using a combination of to presenting a high-tech product in licensed technology and original a surprisingly low-tech market. developments, the Santangelos wirelessly linked a fiber-optic “There were a lot of bibs and cribs sleeping mat to a smartphone app. and stuff like that, but we were The mat monitors each breath the one of the few exhibitors to have baby takes, and parents can set anything that was technological in the app to alarm if breathing stops nature,” he says. “There’s been way or slows. The product debuts this more innovation in toys than there month with a MSRP of $329, but has been in infant safety, and we it’s been in development for two don’t understand why.” years. Santangelo says the testing process, conducted at a hospital in That spirit of common-sense Singapore, took six months. innovation has pervaded Santangelo’s business endeavors. “There were 65 babies involved, all With Dynamic Media, it meant the way from preemies up to about selling business owners on 20 pounds,” he says. “The babies licensed and legal satellite radio would lay on the mats and the nurses programming. With Secure Media would manually count the breath Systems (which the Santangelos rate of the child, then they’d look at sold last spring), it meant creating a the wired cardiorespiratory monitor, specialized clear-plastic MP3 player then they’d look at the number our that would display a prisoner’s technology was reading.” identification and couldn’t be weaponized. Both businesses have Once SafeToSleep was refined to seen smashing success: Dynamic match the accuracy of the hospital’s Media is the nation’s largest provider monitors, Santangelo says it was of SiriusXM to businesses, and time to “announce it to the baby Secure Media Systems equipment is world.” The product debuted in in hundreds of prisons nationwide. October at the ABC Kids Expo, a major trade show for the children’s Santangelo says his businesses are in products industry. The Santangelos Sterling Heights to stay, though.
“There’s been way more innovation in toys than there has been in infant safety, and we don’t understand why.” Between Dynamic Media and SafeToSleep, the Santangelos employ 13, three of whom were hired last year. And they’re anticipating hiring an additional 20 for a SafeToSleep call center. “We always joke that Sterling Heights is the Silicon Valley of Michigan, because there’s a great deal of innovation,” Santangelo says. “The automotive base pulls in a lot of really talented people, and for companies like us, that’s a windfall of a talent pool to pull from. You go to Washington or California, you’re competing with Google or Microsoft for talent.” And having lived in Sterling Heights since he was six and his brother was three, it only makes sense for Santangelo to stick around. “We’re born and raised here,” he says. “This is home for us.” iMetro Magazine | 9
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UAW-Ford gives Habitat for Humanity a helping hand
“Without the support of UAW-Ford and other companies, we couldn’t continue or mission,” said Terri Benson, events manager for Macomb County Habitat for Humanity. At the three-bedroom bungalow near 14 Mile Road and Beaconsfield, the autoworkers installed kitchen cabinets and molding on Wednesday. Last week, they installed a new kitchen floor. The house, built in the 1950s, also has new lighting fixtures, plumbing, furnace, electrical wiring plus vinyl siding on the house and detached garage. The bathroom was gutted for new ceramic tile on the floor and shower walls, and a new vanity. A new concrete driveway and sidewalk were poured last year, and landscaping is expected to be planted in March. Ford worker Angelo Sacino said it feels good assisting the organization with housing improvements for qualified, low-income families. “It’s been a real honor working with them,” he said. “We’re happy to help.”
Using federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding earmarked by county government officials, Macomb County Habitat for Humanity purchased the house and other foreclosed dwellings in 2010. Benson Nicholson has gotten her elbows dirty putting up new and Habitat marketing manager Michael Terenzi Jr. said wood trim and painting the 900-square-foot Macomb they didn’t know how long the house on Nicke Street County Habitat for Humanity house — and hopes it will had been vacant, but neighbors notice when dark and unoccupied houses suddenly bustle with activity. be her home. Jennifer Nicholson isn’t a casual observer of the ongoing renovations at a home on Nicke Street in Clinton Township.
“Habitat was my beacon of light in the darkness,” said To purchase a Habitat house, applicants must be employed, deemed low-income, and meet other the single mother of four children ages 3 to 13. eligibility guidelines. On Wednesday, Habitat for Humanity officials and volunteers got a big helping hand from Ford employees But the rules don’t stop there. Before purchasing one of who are members of the United Auto Workers, the the houses through zero-interest financing, prospective buyers must successfully complete home maintenance organizations first corporate partner this year. classes, a money management course through Michigan UAW-Ford recently contacted the non-profit housing State University Extension, and perform 250 hours of agency and promised it would provide a minimum “sweat equity” to become habitat “partners.” of five of its members to volunteer at various home construction and housing renovation projects three “We teach them how to be good homeowners,” Benson said. days a week through 2013. 12 | iMetro Magazine
“We teach them how to be good homeowners,” Benson said. Habitat for Humanity, which has 76 affiliates in Michigan, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Macomb County in 2013. This year, the organization plans to place approximately 20 families into new homes that are newly built or renovated. Ruselda Villanueve Johnson, the organization’s local fundraising official, said the offer of help by UAW-Ford was a pleasant surprise. “It really came out of the blue. It’s huge,” she said. “It builds awareness of what we’re doing here. “We’re trying to let folks know we’re here, we’re not going anywhere and we have families to serve.”
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Food for Thought Italian Chicken Soup with “Toasted” Parmesan Gnocchi Ingredients: 2 medium baking potatoes (about 1 1/4 pounds) 4 strips bacon, thinly sliced 2 carrots, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds 2 stalks celery, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces 24 pearl onions, peeled Kosher salt and freshly ground white pepper 1 3- to 4-pound chicken 1 small bunch fresh thyme, tied with string 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup breadcrumbs 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish 2 large eggs 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil 3 cups loosely packed spinach leaves 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake the potatoes until soft, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, brown the bacon over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery and onions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken, thyme and broth; bring to a simmer and skim any foam that rises to the top. Reduce the heat and barely simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 40 minutes. Discard the thyme. Remove the chicken and let cool. Pull off the meat and shred into bite-sized pieces; cover and set aside. Season the broth with salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 3 minutes; s e t aside. Halve the baked potatoes and scoop the flesh into a bowl; mash w i t h a fork and season with salt and pepper. Sift the flour over the potatoes and add the toasted crumbs, parmesan and nutmeg; lightly knead to make a firm dough. Roll into 1/2-inch-wide cylinders; cut into 1/2-inch pieces and round the edges to make oval-shaped gnocchi. Bring the soup to a boil and drop in the gnocchi. Cook until they float to the top, 1 to 2 minutes; transfer the gnocchi to warm bowls with a slotted spoon. Beat the eggs with a fork; use the fork to “paint” ribbons of egg across the soup. Let set, about 30 seconds. Stir in the chicken meat, parsley, basil and spinach; season with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup over the gnocchi. Serve with lemon wedges and more Parmesan. 18 | iMetro Magazine
Grown Up Mac & Cheese Ingredients: Kosher salt 1 pound elbow macaroni 1 stick unsalted butter, plus melted butter for brushing 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons mustard powder 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional) 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 quart whole milk 8 ounces Havarti cheese, grated (about 2 cups) 1 pound sharp yellow cheddar cheese, grated (about 4 cups) 12 ounces white American cheese, grated (about 3 cups) 1 sleeve butter crackers (such as Ritz), crushed (about 35 crackers) 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional) Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until just slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and rinse under cold water. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and cayenne and cook, whisking, until the mixture is smooth and slightly golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce begins to boil and thicken, about 5 minutes. Stir in the havarti and all but 1 cup each of the cheddar and American cheese; cook, stirring, until the cheese just melts, about 1 more minute. Stir in the pasta, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to make a creamy sauce. Season with salt. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Spread the pasta mixture in the dish. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a bowl in the microwave; stir in the crushed crackers and parmesan. Sprinkle the reserved cheddar and American cheese evenly over the pasta, then scatter the cracker mixture on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until heated through, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil; continue baking until browned and bubbly, about 20 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. iMetro Magazine | 19
Tech cool G adgets
2013
Are you looking for the best gadget gifts to give to a friend or family member? Often we think of gadgets that our geeky friends will like but there are also cool gadgets and gizmo’s that can be given to just about anyone on our gift list. The gadget does not have to be a technology based item, it can be something that is useful and then again the gadget can be something that is humorous. So, let’s have a look at some of the best gadget gifts on the market today.
IPAD MINI 2 NEST Thermostat
Bid adieu to that stomach-sinking “Did I lock the house?” feeling, or the not much better “I locked myself out—again” moment. Lockitron provides key-less lock and entry initiated through a Smart phone app. For added peace of mind, those with kids can also receive texts when they arrive home.
Normally we wouldn’t get very excited about a new thermostat, but the Nest has been designed by two former Apple employees who were involved in the creation of the iPod and iPhone. The Nest learns your habits every time you adjust it and automatically heats your house to suit. It even lets you control the heating when you’re not in via the mobile app. The makers of the device claim that this smart heating can halve your fuel bills.
This 8-inch version of the Ipad has been surrounded by some rumors and questions. Some outlets are reporting that it is already in its manufacturing stage. A Fall 2013 release date is seen to be swirling through the rumor mill. The first version of the Ipad Mini has seen some disappointing reviews due to the screen resolution and processor. However, leave it to Apple to listen to their consumers and rectify problems. The Ipad Mini 2 will prevail and will be a force to be reckoned with.
SHOP NOW: Lockitron
Shop Now: Nest
Shop Now: Apple
Lockitron Smart lock
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Belkin wemo Baby Monitor The Innovation Awards at CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) helps sort through the tons of gadgets at the show to highlight some of the most useful, interesting and groundbreaking. The focus is really on new stuff that you might actually want, and will be available to the general public. The WeMo Baby Monitor & App from Belkin. It’s great for any new parents or parents-to-be. It’s a baby monitor that can go in your child’s room, but uses an app on your phone instead of a second receiver. That means you can check up on your child with your iPhone or iPod Touch, and you don’t have to carry a second device around the house with you. This is already available from retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, and costs $84 from both of those retailers (as of right now). A new baby monitor from Amazon (without the iPhone capability) can run you anywhere from $40 to $140, so the WeMo is a good deal with extra added convenience. Shop Now: Belkin
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