A package that was meant to contain a cell phone reportedly showed up empty the morning of Sunday, July 12, to a Birmingham shipping store. The man who ordered the cell phone reported the incident to Birmingham police, saying he placed the order under a week ago. When he went to pick up the package and open it, he found there was no cell phone. Birmingham police report an investigation is ongoing, and there are currently no suspects.

Michigan lakes, streams, and rivers get their life from the watersheds that feed them, and the health of those watersheds is crucial to the life of those waterbodies. With 63 major watersheds in Michigan that break into another 267 sub-watersheds, these networks of lakes and streams eventually make their way to the Great Lakes. To dive deeper into efforts to maintain the health of watersheds, five Southeast Michigan Watersheds, including the Clinton River, Rouge River, Huron

Bloomfield Hills natives, Giulia Pincetti (pictured here) and Natalia Pataq, met earlier this year as students at the University of Michigan. They initially bonded over a class project as well as growing up in the same area, and were inspired to start an information services company called Verum Technologies with a fellow student, David Vargas. The Latin word “verum” translates to “truth” in English. “Our project was connected to UCLA’s Initiative to Study Hate. It involved m

At just 16-years-old, Lillian Tang, Bloomfield Hills High School student, has achieved the honor of outstanding performer in a leading role at the 14th annual Sutton Foster Awards Showcase. The young thespian has been interested in performing since she was a small child. “I definitely always loved being center stage,” she said. “Whenever I had the opportunity to perform, I would. And, my love of theater has only grown.” Tang’s first major performance was “Les Miserables.” “I

Kirk Ambrose, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, recently embarked on an 800-mile pilgrimage to conduct research for his upcoming book. “I’m in the process of writing it and I intend to complete it next year,” he said. “It’s about art in the age of doubt.” Ambrose crossed through France, Spain and Switzerland during his pilgrimage. He met some fascinating people along the way. “I was really interested in the people who were helping us,” he said. “From folks cl

National retailer Portland Leather Goods is opening a new store in Birmingham at 157 W. Maple Road, the former location of REVIVE. Founded in 2016 by Curtis Matsko, Portland Leather Goods has grown rapidly from its beginnings in a Portland, Oregon garage, where Matsko set out to create the perfect leather journal. Today, the lifestyle brand is known for its high-quality leather goods, timeless designs, and commitment to honest craftsmanship. Portland Leather Goods offers a wi

Cherry Republic is expanding its retail footprint with a new store in Birmingham. Sara Harding, VP of Marketing & Impact for Cherry Republic, says the store opening is planned for late September. “We could not be more excited to become part of the downtown Birmingham community. We’ve long admired the energy and character of the area, and we can’t wait to welcome neighbors in for samples, stories, and a taste of Northern Michigan,” said Harding. The Michigan-based brand was fo

The Makeup Lab, a new luxury beauty salon, has opened at 2406 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Township. The salon is owned by local makeup artist Chanel Yono, who brings more than 10 years of industry experience to the business. Yono began her career at Red Salon in Birmingham before opening a private salon suite. As her clientele grew, she sought a larger space and found the ideal location on Franklin Road, allowing her to conveniently serve clients throughout Bloomfield Townshi

The Little Gym of Bloomfield Hills will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, August 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a free family event which will give parents and children an opportunity to tour the new facility, meet the instructors and learn more about programs. The Little Gym, located at 43239 Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills in the Kingswood Square Shopping Center, is designed for children ages four months to 12 years. The gymnastics-based programs combine movement, l

A Second Home Pat was never the loudest voice in the room, never one to work a crowd. But she had a way about her. Over the years, one conversation at a time, Pat became someone I always looked forward to seeing. Without any fanfare, she was one of the people who made Next feel like a second home. Pat passed away unexpectedly this month. I lost a friend, and Next, a special member. I don’t normally write about a specific member, but I am making an exception this time. I hope