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By Sara E. Teller

BERKLEY FIRST: A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS TECHNICALLY JUST OVER FOUR-YEARS-OLD, but its roots in Berkley date all the way back to 1929 when a group of Methodists began meeting in a local storefront.

After many decades of faithful ministry, that old church eventually closed its doors. Then, in January 2017, Berkley First launched in its place.

“We exist to gather, nurture, and equip disciples of Jesus Christ for ministry and mission in the world,” Rev. Zack Dunlap explained. He and his wife Rachael lead the ministry.

Dunlap added that the doors are open to any and everyone who is interested in sharing this mission. “Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, Black or white, Asian, or Hispanic, rich or poor, LGBTQ+ or straight, a hunter or a vegan, you are more than welcome here. In planting Berkley First, our hope was to reach people with the good news of Jesus who we never would have reached otherwise – people who might never have been reached at all.”

Berkley First has programs to address the needs of all of its congregation members. In fact, the church’s purpose is to unite everyone for the mutual purpose of serving the Lord, and there is strength in numbers. “We firmly believe that what unites us in Christ is greater than anything that divides us,” he said. “Even if you don’t yet believe in Jesus, we’d love the chance to get to know you.”

The church is community-driven and operates best when the community is willing to be just as passionate in helping each other and giving back. “We were created for community and designed for worship,” Dunlap said.

Worship services are held each Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M. Dunlap encourages Berkley residents and those in surrounding communities to “grab a cup of freshly brewed Great Lakes coffee, check the kids into our excellent children’s programs, and grab a seat to take in modern worship music with a message that’s both Biblically-sound and sure to apply to your life.”

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT BERKLEY FIRST IS THAT IT’S LOCATED in an inclusive community that holds fun, ongoing events and activities. “Since its inception, Berkley First has sought to be a hub of community activity from our prominent location at 2820 12 Mile Road,” Dunlap said. “With great schools, a walkable downtown, and a unique atmosphere that’s simultaneously small town and suburban, Berkley is a wonderful community to live, work, pray, and play – and what is good for one of us in this little city is good for all of us.”

The church houses both the Tri-Community Coalition and the new Berkley Cares Food Pantry. It also partners with Micah 6 in Pontiac, Brightmoor and Cass in Detroit, and has international partners in Cuba and Honduras. Berkley First, itself, is a multi-site campus of Birmingham First, located on West Maple.

“We are also connected with Berkley’s only Boy Scout Troop, Troop 1085,” Dunlap said, adding, “We are proud to be the first church in Berkley to become a member of the Chamber of Commerce, because we truly believe that what is good for one of us as churches, businesses, residents, and restauranteurs is good for all of us. This empowers us to offer the programming and resources of a larger church, while still having the intimate community feel that Berkley is so well known for.”

BERKLEY FIRST HAS CONTINUED TO ENSURE ITS CONGREGATION HAS OPPORTUNITIES for engagement throughout the pandemic and has held outdoor summer gatherings to accommodate this. The church plans to continue to hold gatherings while upholding all statewide mandates. While safety has always been a top priority, Dunlap knows that togetherness is an important asset of a strong church family.

For more information on Berkley First, 2820 12 Mile Rd., please visit www.berkleyfirst.org or call 248.399.3698.

Worship services are currently held both online and in-person.

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By Lisa Howard

WHILE YOU WON’T FIND AN ARMADILLO IN THE WILD in Michigan, Berkley has its own version in the form of Armadillo Printwear, a screenprinting shop that has been serving residents of SouthEastern Michigan for nearly 30 years.

Owner Dave Lakatos initially started out producing custom tie-dye garments in 1992. Over the years, he and his staff have transitioned into a fulltime screen-printing shop, creating spiritwear, uniforms for sports teams, shirts for community events, and even gear for yacht clubs. “We do a lot for the School District, the Public Safety Department, the Parks & Recreation Department and the Chamber of Commerce,” says Jon Murrell, store manager. “We try to cater to everybody who comes through and we’re very community-focused.”

With four presses running in their tidy 2,000 square foot shop, the Armadillo team can print on anything that lies flat. They can also provide custom embroidery, which comes in particularly handy for restaurants and dispensaries and any business looking for employee uniforms. Occasionally, they print single-color posters, but 99.9 percent of their business is in clothing.

If you’ve attended Berkley annual events like the Berkley Street Art Fest or the Cruise Fest, you’ve seen T-shirts that were printed and designed by Armadillo – in addition to managing the store, Jon is also an artist, and is thrilled to work with the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce to create the shirts. “Seeing as we’re the ones who print the shirts for these events, I want to make sure the design looks as good as it possibly can,” Jon says. He designed the logo for the first Street Art Fest in 2017 as well as the 25th anniversary Cruise Fest shirt in 2021. (He also painted murals for the 2017 and 2018 Street Fest events.)

IN THE 16 YEARS JON HAS SPENT WORKING AT ARMADILLO, he says they’re busier than ever, surprising given the past two years. “We’re trying to keep on truckin’! It’d be great to get to the point where we can take a break, but for now we need to keep our heads down and keep printing shirts,” he says.

That uptick in orders has meant that Jon does less design work than usual, focusing more on production, although he’s still happy to create artwork. “A customer can give me a simple sketch on a restaurant napkin, and I can turn that into something,” he says. With a degree in fine art from Wayne State University and specializations in photo-realistic charcoal art and pen-and-ink-drawings, designing images and logos is second nature for Jon. Although he’s worked on a variety of interesting design projects during his time at Armadillo, his favorite was the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race – one year, Armadillo created both the event’s merchandising gear and poster designs.

“We just try to have really good-quality prints and we make sure that everybody who sees it knows where it comes from – we put our stickers on every box of shirts we send out,” says Jon.

So if you’re hankering for the sight of an armadillo in the neighborhood, keep your eyes open! You just might catch a (two-dimensional) glimpse of the adorable long-snouted, armored critter around town.

Armadillo Printwear | 3861 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, MI 48072
(248) 547-0490 | www.goarmadillo.com | jon@goarmadillo.com

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By Lisa Howard

LONGTIME BERKLEY RESIDENTS FONDLY REMEMBER AMICI’S PIZZA & LIVING ROOM…and they might not even know that the restaurant ever closed. That’s because the restaurant only shut its doors for one day: January 1, 2020.

On January 2, 2020, they reopened under new ownership as Amici’s Kitchen & Living Room. Tim and Laura Kenrick had been regulars at Amici’s for years – their favorite was the artichoke pizza – and when Tim decided to rethink his career in corporate restaurants, serendipity and googling “restaurants for sale in Berkley” led to buying Amici’s. “It was pretty much a love connection right from the start,” Tim says. “After over 20 years of working in corporate restaurants in this market, I wanted to get back into authentic hospitality. Owning this business allows me to do what got me into this industry in the first place.”

Of course, opening a restaurant in January of 2020 turned out to be an even bigger challenge than the couple had ever anticipated, when they had to revert to curbside-only service after just ten weeks. Tim, Laura and their staff spent the first six months in a hold-steady mode or, what Tim refers to as “no hard-lefts and no hard-rights.”

Gradually, they started making changes here and there, like scrapping paper plates in favor of standard plates and silverware, and renovating the sound system, interior lighting and bar. They also added heaters to the patio before winter hit, which led to parkaclad guests enjoying their dinners amidst a snowy landscape.

IN 2021, MENU CHANGES ARRIVED in the form of appetizers, Michigan beers on draft and new “Tim’s favorites” pizzas. (Don’t worry – the classic pizzas are still on the menu, plus you can still build your own pie.) Laura now makes Amici’s sole dessert: double-chocolate chip cookies. Not surprisingly, they sell out nearly every night. Tim and Laura have added more cocktails to the roster, too, including seasonal drinks like the wintery Brown Sugar Cinn made with house-cinnamon infused reposado tequila, Grand Marnier and lemon juice. While diners will still find plenty of martinis on the menu, the martinis now share the spotlight with margaritas, especially in the summer months when everyone wants fruity and spicy flavors like mango-habanero and strawberry-mint.

One key to the continued success of Amici’s, Tim says, is the staff. Due to the ownership transfer only taking a single day, he and Laura didn’t have to lay anybody off. Also, having worked in the corporate restaurant industry for so long, Tim already had established relationships with hospitality professionals. “Our success is 100 percent due to the staff we’ve been able to keep and cultivate,” he says. “Not being short-staffed right now is an absolute anomaly.” That said, they’ll be closed on Sundays during the winter months to avoid putting too much pressure on their loyal staff. Martini Sundays will become $7 Martini Mondays, followed by $4 Michigan craft beers on Tuesdays, half-off bottles of wine and sangrias on Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays with specialty cocktails on offer.

THROUGHOUT THE RESTAURANT’S EVOLUTION, Tim says he’s loved finally owning his own restaurant. And for her part, Laura is just as much a part of the action – Tim calls her the “morale booster and restaurant mom,” roles that she fulfills along with baking the sought-after cookies and being in charge of dough production for both the sourdough-fermented dough and the gluten-free dough.

“She’s the brakes and I’m the gas,” is how Tim describes their relationship. “We’ve been married for 28 years she knows me better than I know myself. It’s a great partnership.” All of the pizza lovers in Berkley would raise a slice to that!

Amici’s Kitchen & Living Room
3249 Twelve Mile Rd, Berkley MI 48072
248.544.4100
www.amiciskitchenandlivingroom.com

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

MICHELLE ARMSTRONG HAS A CLEAR MISSION IN LIFE: to help the small businesses in and around the Berkley community. She is the owner of her own small business, TAG MultiMedia, but her journey didn’t start there.

“It’s been in my nature to help the small-business type-of-person since childhood because my mother and my father had a small business,” she said. “They are inspiring to me and have helped me set the tone for my definitions of success.”

Armstrong is a member of the Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak Chambers of Commerce, Berkley High School DECA Advisory Committee and Royal Oak Women’s Club, and, in 2019, developed the BerkleyU series with a goal of helping local small businesses stay informed, network and remain a local value in the community.

As a self-proclaimed advocate for small businesses, it might be surprising that Armstrong spent 15 years working in a corporate setting. Having been on both sides of the fence has only further prepared her for her current venture.

“I’ve been in sales, management, training, insight marketing and performance management making sure advertising was performing at a level where our clients saw a return on their investment,” she said. “I moved from there into a business automation specialist role and was knee-deep in how software needed to be a part of the small business model.”

WHICH LEADS TO THE MISSION OF TAG MULTIMEDIA, LOCATED AT 642 S. MAIN ST. IN CLAWSON. Armstrong is using her corporate experience to make software and virtual and augmented reality more accessible to small businesses around Oakland County. But what does that mean?

“We are working on proprietary software that will change the way business is done online and how small to medium-sized businesses present themselves and be represented online,” she said.

This isn’t just your average website or social media profile. TAG is creating online avatars that shoppers can interact with and digital replications of local cities that users will be able to explore and shop in.

“The avatar can live on your website and your social media and is meant to interact with customers. The beauty of having an avatar is that once you train it, you don’t have to retrain it like you would a new employee,” Armstrong said. “In the digital cities, we’ve been able to merge gaming and social environments with a retail and interactive social aspect, all in one space.”

TAG HAS APPROACHED MULTIPLE CITY GOVERNMENTS, including Berkley, and local civic organizations to build these virtual cities. Like many newer technology concepts, it may be hard for some to picture these concepts in action. But Armstrong isn’t deterred by skeptics.

“Not everyone is going to understand the value of this, but those same people can’t deny that eyeballs are online and (businesses) will get lost in the matrix if they don’t present themselves a certain way – a new solution is needed,” Armstrong said. “Virtual and augmented realities aren’t going away. In fact, by the year 2030 it’s going to be a $1.6 trillion dollar industry.”

Several of TAG’s clients are already using avatars in billboards and commercials. Armstrong suggests watching some of their Digital Community Network videos, available on their YouTube channel, DCN Network, to get a better understanding of their product.

“If we don’t do something now, the idea of a brick-and-mortar environment where you can shop is going to diminish. We’re already seeing the impact of that and if those businesses had a way to compete in both spaces they would survive,” she said. “For the last 15 years, I have been helping small businesses bridge the understanding and functionality of software to help them run their business and get a return. I’m looking for more businesses that want to be showcased in this changing landscape.”

For more information and to get involved with TAG MultiMedia, visit TAGMultiMedia.net.

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By Sara E. Teller

THE BERKLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS KNOWN FOR PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS from early elementary to beyond high school. The District is highly-ranked in the State of Michigan as well as nationwide, and there are plenty of diverse opportunities for students to excel both academically and in extracurricular activities.

“In the Berkley School District, students are prepared to be creative, curious, confident, well-rounded critical thinkers,” said Jessica Stilger, Director of Communications. “They are kind and caring and have a global perspective while understanding their communities.” She added that the District “is known for [presenting] pathways for students to achieve their individual best, whatever that looks like for each student.”

One of the main reasons Berkley has one of the top districts has to do with the tremendous support from residents. Since its inception in 1840, the District has enjoyed support from everyone, including businesses and families without children attending school. Stilger said, “Berkley’s students enjoy the multitude of experiences and successes because of the overwhelming community support, the fantastic work of their great teachers and administrators, and the rich and vibrant environments that families create. The incredible successes Berkley students experience are possible, in part, because of the support provided at every level.”

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED to think critically and reach their full potential through out-of-the-box courses in the Cultures of Thinking & Reading program as well as writing workshop models designed to enhance literacy skills and increase comprehension in all subjects.

There are a number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses available in higher grades – 26, in fact. These allow students to extend their knowledge beyond a traditional curriculum. Students also have an opportunity to take classes at the Oakland Schools Technical Centers as well as the Center for Creative Studies & the Arts (CASA). These partnerships allow for additional career exploration that is invaluable post-graduation.

“Classes like zoology, forensics, Encore! show choir, creative writing, film studies, history of the Holocaust, marketing, African-American literature, computer programming and more challenge and engage students,” Stilger explained. “Students can explore robotics, foreign languages, student newspaper opportunities and various music options in middle school. In addition, many middle school students complete high school credits while attending Norup and Anderson.”

Berkley offers a plethora of sports, including softball, baseball, football, basketball, track and field, cross-country, wrestling, swimming, volleyball, golf and tennis. Students can also join clubs like the yearbook team, Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA), Black Perspectives Club, Dungeons & Dragons, gaming club, robotics, and art and drama. The high school, specifically, offers soccer, cheerleading, hockey, figure skating, dance and rugby. Stilger explained, “At the high school level, students are able to join over 50 clubs of varying interests, like Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), GSA, drama club, future teachers and more.”

DISTRICT AWARDS

BERKLEY HAS ACHIEVED MANY AWARDS, including being named Best Community for Music Education for the last ten years by the NAMM Foundation (2012-2021). The District is also among the top 25 school districts in Michigan, according to the 2022 Niche rankings, and Berkley High School was named Best High School by the U.S. News & World Report in 2021, as well as being among the top six percent of high schools in the nation.

In recent years, students have been named All-State and Academic All-State for swimming, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and soccer. Twenty student athletes signed with colleges and universities in the 2020-2021 academic year. The Berkley High School (BHS) Orchestra was one of three high school orchestras nationwide invited to play at Carnegie Hall in 2019 for the World Stride Music Festival. “This was the second trip to Carnegie Hall in four years,” explained Stilger.

The BHS Drama Department produced a musical in Spring 2021 and performed outside to ensure the show would go on despite the Coronavirus pandemic. BHS was also the first school in the state to adopt Sources of Strength, a peer-led wellness program.

“The Berkey School District is incredibly proud of all of its students and the paths they are forging for themselves,” said Stilger, adding, “Families are encouraged to join their school’s support groups to stay involved with their child’s school and education.”

In fact, each school has its own Parent Teacher Association parents can join to have a say in the opportunities offered. Choir, Orchestra, and Instrumental Booster groups support grades 6 through 12, and the Athletic Boosters support high school athletics. The Berkley Education Foundation helps all students in all buildings through teacher innovation grants, student scholarships, elementary enrichment programs, and sending students in eighth grade on college tours.

2021 INITIATIVES

THE BERKLEY COMMUNITY PASSED A SINKING FUND INITIATIVE IN 2018 that was meant to expand upon a 2015 bond initiative to provide funding for school roofing and concrete replacement projects, technology infrastructure improvements, energy and security developments, technology device purchases and more. Most recently, the District has focused this funding on building an addition at Anderson Middle School for a multipurpose and cafeteria space. Construction is slated to be completed soon.

A draft of a new strategic plan is also ready for community feedback. The plan will guide the District’s work for the next three to five years, setting stretch goals for the District as a whole and creating a plan for the administrative team to report on to the Board of Education. “The words inspire, empower, lead, will guide the team through this process,” Stilger explained.

Berkley is continuing to ensure that diversity is at the center of its commitment to students and families. Stilger said, “The School District is committed to keeping diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of its goals by creating an environment where all staff, students and community members feel a sense of belonging. Many diversity, equity and inclusion goals and strategies are embedded in the new strategic plan proposal.” This focus ensures that the District’s core values of lifting up, encouraging, and supporting each and every child is upheld.

“All are welcome in the Berkley schools no matter the color of their skin, who they love, how they identify, if or how they worship, their family income, where they live, what they look like, their abilities or what language they speak,” Stilger said.

Berkley also has a new superintendent, Scott Francis, who was the District’s Director of Teaching, Learning & Technology for four years prior to moving into his most current position in May 2021. Francis was also the principal of Pattengill Elementary from 2014 to 2017.

“Superintendent Francis will spend the first months of his new position building relationships with staff, families, and community members,” Stilger said. “The goal of the conversations and work will be centered around what is best for students and staff, and how the community – along with Superintendent Francis can create a shared vision for the future of Berkley Schools.”

For more information on the Berkley School District, please contact the administrative office at 248-837-8000 or visit www.berkleyschools.org

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By Lisa Howard

TEN YEARS ON THE BERKLEY CITY COUNCIL, FOUR YEARS ON THE LOCAL EMERGENCY POLICY COUNCIL FOR OAKLAND COUNTY, 30 years in the Army and Army Reserve, 37 years as a volunteer firefighter…and that’s not even getting into his career as an engineer.

If it involves emergency management, Jack Blanchard has done it. “I love emergency management — it applies to everything, from schools to cities,” Blanchard says. (Not surprisingly, he’s also been involved with Berkley Schools.)

He initially worked with emergency management in his active Army days back in the 1970s. “One of my jobs was to open up the Ohio Turnpike after a big snowstorm,” he explains. “I was running operations from North Carolina, flying in airport snowplows and snowblowers and moving in Army units to help clear the expressway. It was a major effort.”

NOW, HAVING RECEIVED HIS CERTIFICATION AS A PROFESSIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGER by the Michigan State Police, Blanchard spends a lot of time putting long-term planning into place for Oakland County concerns including big local events like the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Berkley Art Bash.

Between public-safety, food-service and traffic-control plans, overall event plans can be a 100+ pages long. “People don’t realize how much is involved in putting on these events,” says Blanchard. “We make sure they’re pulled off safely. We do a lot of long-term planning so that if something happens it will be very easy to address.”

In addition to events, a big part of emergency management is dealing with climate-related issues like flooding. As most Berkley residents know, flooding is a perennial problem, in large part because it’s a regional problem. Blanchard explains that while the City can help mitigate some flooding, heavy rainfall to the west can cause big problems.

“We have sewers coming in from Southfield passing through Berkley that we dump our water into. And when we have really torrential rain, the sewers get supercharged and we can’t get water into them,” he says. “So, we’re working hard to figure out ways to temporarily store the rainwater, like installing big rainwater storage systems under-neath parking lots.”

When building their parking lot the Library put in a system, for example, and whenever any new major development is built going forward, the builders will be required to put systems underneath it so that the water can run in there and then be released slowly into the drain system. Another useful tactic is to slow down water going into sewers in the streets, allowing the water to sit on the surface for a little longer means less pressure on the sewers, pressure that could otherwise force water up into people’s houses. The City is also looking at installing rain gardens to help capture and soak up excessive rain.

WHEN HE’S NOT DRAWING UP PLANS TO IMPROVE CITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVENTS, Blanchard serves on the Oakland County Incident Management Team, assisting in searches for missing persons, helping out when a tornado hits, and working with events outside of Berkley like the Detroit fireworks and Milford Memories summer festival.

During the pandemic, he also closely tracked what Berkley spent for various needs since some of that overlapped with receiving FEMA funding. As he points out, any emergency manager worth their salt knows that keeping impeccable records is the key to potential future reimbursement.

“We have a good team in City Hall,” Blanchard says. “In terms of the future of Berkley, everything I’ve seen so far is positive. We’re fixing the roads and redoing water mains, our DDA Director is working on recruiting businesses and we’re getting a lot of new residents. I think the city is going to develop even more.”

As if that weren’t enough, Blanchard has also been the City Council Liaison to the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce for the last ten years. Well done, Jack!

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

FOR 22 YEARS, SHANBOM EYE SPECIALISTS HAS BEEN HELPING RESIDENTS OF BERKLEY and the Metro Detroit area see clearly. Led by Dr. Steven A. Shanbom and Dr. Amanda Salter, the practice specializes in cataracts and Lasik, but also offers a myriad of other eye care services.

“Our practice has been a center of excellence in cataract and Lasik surgery for over 30 years. We have extensive experience with premium implant lenses to minimize the need for glasses after surgery,” Shanbom said. “We also see patients for glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, dry eyes and routine medical eye care.”

For individuals wanting to know how to better care for their eyes, he recommends getting a vision exam every year and said there are certain signs of cataracts and dry eye to look out for.

“The annual exam will screen for glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration,” Shanbom said.

“Symptoms of cataracts are glare and halo – especially with night driving. Difficulty seeing far distance or reading are also common. Dry eye symptoms include the eyes feeling heavy, tired, and sandy with fluctuations in vision. Ironically, watery eyes can be a sign of dryness.”

BOARD-CERTIFIED IN BOTH OPHTHALMOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE, Shanbom attended Wayne State University School of Medicine and completed residencies at Detroit’s Sinai Hospital. As a patient of his own Lasik surgery in 1999, he still maintains perfect vision without glasses and is an advocate for the procedure. He has performed more than 30,000 corrective eye procedures.

Dr. Salter joined Shanbom Eye Specialists in 2021. Her specialties complement the practice, and she has even introduced some new procedures to their offerings.

“She is a native Detroiter who attended the University of Michigan before studies at NYU and the prestigious Brown University,” Shanbom said. “In addition to excellence in cataract surgery, Dr. Salter has a special interest in treating dry eyes. She has also added cosmetic treatments, such as Botox and fillers to the practice.”

Located at 28747 Woodward Ave., the building itself is a vision in architecture. Shanbom moved his practice into the arched, landscaped structure right off M-1 in 1999.

“We purchased the practice from Dr. Spiro, who built our impressive building on Woodward in 1985” he said of the space. “We also added a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center on the lower level of our building where we perform our cataract and cosmetic procedures. This is a convenience for the patients and allows them to avoid the hospital.”

BUILDING THEIR PRACTICE OUT TO ALLOW FOR IN-OFFICE PROCEDURES is one way that Shanbom Eye is always working to make vision care convenient and comfortable for their patients. But they also work hard to make life easier for their Berkley neighbors. One way they do that is through involvement in the Berkley Chamber of Commerce.

“We love being a part of the Berkley community and have supported Berkley high school events and sponsored the Dream Cruise. We’ve also sponsored many senior programs and have been involved with the Lion’s Club.” Shanbom said. “The Shanbom Eye Specialist family is proud to serve the Berkley community for their eye care needs.”

For more information or to schedule an eye care appointment, call 248.546.2133 or visit shanbomeye.com

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By Ingrid Sjostrand

TOM BYARS HAS SPENT HIS CAREER WORKING TO PROTECT HIS NEIGHBORS IN BERKLEY and the surrounding Metro Detroit communities – but maybe not in the way you would think. Byars is president and owner of Eagle Rock Insurance, and for the last 24 years he’s been ensuring residents have protection from natural disaster, accidents and the unexpected in life.

“We take the time to get to know you, and that way we can figure out those specific situations that we need to apply insurance remedies to,” he said. “That’s the basis of our being. We’re just an old-school neighborhood agency.”

Byars has lived in Berkley since 1998 and to him that means more than just residing and working here. He acted on the Board of Directors for the Berkley Chamber of Commerce for eight years and currently sits on the Board of Review.

Byars is also dedicated to Eagle Rock contributing to the community, too. “We’ve supported the Berkley Education Foundation for years, participated in golf outings. One of our employees, Rebecca Theriault, is in the Junior Women’s Club,” he said. “We’re certainly invested in the community. We volunteer on various projects and boards and it’s important for us to give back.”

BYARS BELIEVES BEING INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY also brings insight to his business and allows him and his team to better serve residents.

“There are certain types of losses that are very frequent in this area. Water backup is a big one. I would never sell a homeowners policy without a water backup coverage because it’s not ‘IF it’s going to happen to you,’ but rather ‘WHEN it’s going to happen’ here in Berkley and Huntington Woods,” he said. “We have the advantage over someone who isn’t necessarily local, a call-center somewhere basing your policy solely on price.”

Eagle Rock provides auto, business, home, life, flood and motorcycle insurance, as well as wealth management services. They are an independent insurance provider representing multiple carriers, including Progressive, AutoOwners and six others, which to Byars, is another benefit to his clients.

“We have the advantage over a provider that only has one carrier and – not to denigrate those – it’s just a different way to get the product out to market,” he said. “I’m not employed by any of my companies, I’m representing my client. So it gives me a little more flexibility in finding a good insurance solution for them.”

THERE ARE FOUR EMPLOYEES AT EAGLE ROCK, including Byars. All are licensed, accredited, and take regular classes, which Byars feels is important to provide the best for clients.

“That’s what we strive for, we make sure we position ourselves as professionals in our client’s toolkit. But this is not a high-pressure sales environment, a few moments of your time could save you a lot of heartache down the road,” he said. “Pick up the phone and call us, it’s always the same people. We know about your kids, your dogs, your pets – it’s that level of familiarity that also helps us place our coverage correctly.”

Eagle Rock Insurance
thomas@eaglerockinsurance.com | (248) 548-5530
1904 W Eleven Mile Rd, Berkley MI 48072

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By Lisa Howard

These Neighborhood Pizza Pies Are Definitely Amore.

AS THE POPULARITY OF THE TV SHOW CHEERS AMPLY illustrated, sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. And sometimes you really want pizza.

Those two desires dovetail in the form of Crispelli’s, where Manager Eric Hitchcock says he’s never worked at a restaurant with so many regulars before. Coming from a guy who has spent literally half his life in the restaurant business, that’s saying something. “We have so many regulars that sometimes I feel like I spend my entire day sitting down and chatting with customers,” Eric says. “It feels like family coming in to visit. Some people have been here since Day One, some come in once or twice a week every week and some people make Fridays or Saturdays their regular pizza night. When they come in, you get excited to see them.”

That level of loyalty kept Crispelli’s humming even when they suddenly had to switch to curbside-only in the spring of 2020. While that service model presented a host of challenges, Eric jokes that he felt like he had created the first drive-thru pizza place because so many people rolled up to grab pizzas. “People were very understanding and receptive,” he says. “Even though the dining conditions and carryout conditions may not have been the best when the pandemic first hit, customers kept coming back because they’re fans of our food and fans of our hospitality.” He says the positive community in Berkley has made Crispelli’s his favorite place to work.

The restaurant continues to shift with the times. The bakery area was recently renovated, and the plan is to be open for breakfast service starting in 2022. Crispelli’s will also be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2022, a milestone Hitchcock looks forward to. Some new items will be popping up on the bakery and breakfast menus (cherry croissants, anyone?) even as the restaurant continues its tradition of making its pizza dough from scratch every day and letting it ferment for several days to create a richer flavor.

“We don’t buy a lot of processed stuff,” he explains. “We get vegetables six days a week and we hand-slice and make everything here. It costs more in labor and hours, but being able to offer great gourmet food at an affordable price makes our efforts worth it.”

THAT DEDICATION TO PUTTING FOOD AND customers first probably explains why the Berkley Crispelli’s is the busiest of all of the locations. They also have restaurants in West Bloomfield, Clarkston, and Troy, plus there’s a Crispelli’s Bakery in Royal Oak. And then there’s the Crispelli’s food truck, which roams Metro Detroit and dishes up their signature pizzas at events like the Berkley Street Art Fest. All of that plus donating to local teams, organizations, and causes is part of Crispelli’s commitment to being a vibrant part of the community.

Along with updating the interior of the restaurant, Crispelli’s equipped its two patios with heaters last year, making it possible for diners to enjoy the great outdoors pretty much year-round. Carryouts are still in demand, too, and the Club Room continues to be a go-to venue for hosting private events like birthdays and rehearsal dinners. “It’s great being part of moments like that in people’s lives,” Eric says. “We know we wouldn’t be here without our customers, and we love to put our best face forward and take care of them.”

Crispelli’s Bakery & Pizzeria | 28939 Woodward Ave., Berkley MI 48072
248.591.3300
www.crispellis.com

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By Lisa Howard

REAL ESTATE INVOLVES A LOT MORE THAN SHOWING HOUSES, realtor Tim Murad points out – it’s a “relationships” business. On average, he works with clients for three to six months depending on how long it takes for them to find their dream home, do the closing, and move in.

“In almost four years of being a full-time Keller Williams realtor, I’ve made so many friends! Because that’s what my clients become,” he says. Whether their clients are buying or selling, realtors need to work closely with them to understand their wants and needs and how those factors fit in with the current market.

Last year was a particularly challenging time for anyone involved in real estate given that the traditional timeframe for selling homes was pushed back several months. “March and April are typically the hottest selling months because families want to move over the summer and be settled in before school starts, but that hot streak didn’t get started until midsummer of 2020.

Now we’re seeing more of the traditional market,” Tim explains. He anticipates the market to remain competitive, though, with sellers typically receiving multiple offers over their asking price if they price it right. “If you over-price a house, it’ll sit on the market forever even if the market is hot,” he warns. “Sometimes home-owners have a vision in their head of what they think their house is worth, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect the state of the market.”

Another factor in the upward trajectory of selling prices has been a shortage of new housing. Ever since the recession in the late 2000s led to fewer new homes being built, construction has not gone back to pre-recession levels. That puts more demand on existing houses. The trend was starting to reverse…and then the pandemic hit. Construction costs, in particular, have gone up in terms of both materials and labor. “And on top of that, the pandemic also changed where people want to live,” Tim says. “Because a lot of people can now work remotely, they no longer have to live so close to their place of employment.”

IT’S FAIR TO SAY THAT BEING A REALTOR THESE DAYS IS COMPLICATED! But that hasn’t dimmed Tim’s appreciation of real estate. As a kid, he loved drawing houses and buildings, an obsession that led him to become an architect. His work at an architecture firm eventually took him to the IT department, where he stayed for many years.

Ultimately, though, he wanted to get back to working with people, so he combined that with his architectural experience and became a realtor. “I can look at homes and help guide people to decide if they want to do renovations or additions,” he says, “and I can take what the inspector is trying to explain and put it in layperson terms for the buyer.”

Along with understanding the nuts and bolts of a home, over the years, he’s also acquired expertise in how cities interact with their residents; he has served on several City boards, including the Berkley Planning Commission, the Berkley Downtown Development Authority, and the Berkley Area Chamber of Commerce. As a longtime Berkley resident, he was also the chair of the committee that worked on the Berkley Public Library renovations back in 1998.

Despite having a strong Berkley base, Tim works with clients all over Metro Detroit. Still, he isn’t shy about his feelings regarding our city. “From a real estate standpoint, Berkley is one of the most desirable cities in this area right now,” he says. “I’ve always said to people that it feels like you’re in a small town in the middle of a big city. Everybody knows everybody and is welcoming, yet you’re minutes away from big art museums, sports teams, concert venues, you name it. It’s a great place to live and to raise a family.”

Tim Murad Realty | 423 S Washington Ave., Royal Oak, MI 48067 | (248) 288-3500
https://tjmurad.kw.com | Tim@TimMurad.com

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