The United States of America was built on rugged individualism and free thinking. That being said, this country has always had its share of vaccine-hesitant or anti-vaccination movements. They stretch back to the time when British scientist Edward Jenner discovered the antidote for smallpox in 1721.

I have some questions for the Birmingham City Commission and city staff: NEXT/YMCA: a) The city owns the YMCA facility. What is the one-year operational cost to run the YMCA building and grounds? Heat, electricity, snow removal, cleaning, landscape, maintenance, etc.? b) What are the foreseeable major expenses for the next five years: roof, HVAC, repair, maintenance? c) What are any large capital costs expected in the next five years? d) Is there any plan to make Next facilit

Danyal Israil Dental has opened at 720 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Suite 201, in Birmingham. The practice was founded by Dr. Tiffany Danyal, DDS and Dr. Marian Israil, DDS whose shared philosophy emphasizes listening first, educating patients, and delivering care that is as intentional as it is precise. Dr. Israil earned her DDS in 2020 from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. Dr. Danyal is also a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry wh

Beztak , a developer, builder and manager of luxury residential, senior living, commercial and industrial real estate throughout the United States has announced that The Enclave , its boutique luxury 55+ apartment community in downtown Birmingham, has received LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council . The Enclave is located on Elm Street and sits adjacent to All Seasons Birmingham , part of Beztak’s award-winning senior living portfolio. LEED (Leadersh

Kastler Construction Inc. is proudly celebrating 30 years in business. Founded in 1996, Kastler Construction is an award-winning, full-service residential design-build firm serving metro Detroit and southwest Michigan. Specializing in custom homes, whole house renovations, and luxury remodeling, Kastler Construction is known for exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and personalized service. Founded by Rick Kastler , the firm has built a reputation for delivering t

Jim Beachum and Dick Roeser , childhood friends, founded Beachum and Roeser fifty years ago in 1976. Initially the company built high-quality single family homes and condominium properties. In 1979, the company’s focus shifted exclusively to the development and management of high quality, upscale commercial office properties which serve the medical, therapy, legal, financial and business services market in southeastern Michigan. Beachum and Roeser properties are well know

Elsa Arms , a Birmingham consignment and couture boutique, which opened just three months ago, has closed. The shop, located at 34164 Woodward Avenue, was owned and operated by HeeJun Arms . Arms says she has no plans to open the consignment boutique in another location. Saint Croix , at 268 West Maple Road in Birmingham, has vacated its premises. Also closing its doors is Rotate Boutique, the luxury clothing and accessories resale shop that for seven years was at 361 W. Mapl

As if lifted from a “My Most Unforgettable Character” series, Detroit Country Day School teacher Beverly Hannett-Price is just that to students she has had the honor of teaching at the school for the last 33 years. The passionate English teacher has been a groundbreaker and left an indelible mark on both her students and the educational community since beginning her teaching profession in Albion, Michigan, nearly 68 years ago. Her lifelong achievements that broke the glass ce

Ava Pruden is an award-winning swimmer who was diagnosed with significant hearing loss as an infant, but that has never stopped her determination to succeed. “I wasn’t born with hearing loss. I actually passed my newborn screening,” she said. “They discovered (I had hearing loss) when I was two months old.” Pruden, a 17-year-old junior at Seaholm High School in Birmingham, was first introduced to swimming as a young child. “My mom put me and my brother on the swim team,” she

Bloomfield Hills native Anna Ansari’s interest in Asian culture was sparked at an early age growing up as an Iranian American. Her fascinating journey evolved into a career as a writer focusing on the Asian continent, the immigrant experience and “the intersection of food, family and history.” “My father is originally from Iran, and my mother is from Michigan. They met at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Monroe where he was a doctor and she was a nurse,” she explained. Her recently