Royal Oak Review

Published January 28, 2015

Radon gas is the leading cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers, and high levels of the gas in a house meet the equivalent of smoking eight cigarettes a day, say World Health Organization officials.

Radon gas invades homes and buildings through foundation cracks and openings, and is invisible with no scent. If a test kit determines high levels of radon in a home, simple fixes can lower health risks.

Published January 26, 2015

The future of auto design has some curves

The North American International Auto Show is all about the visuals: the screens, the exhibits and, of course, the design of the vehicles themselves.

During the auto show, which was open to the public Jan. 17-25, the College for Creative Studies in Detroit maintained an exhibit presence while displaying some models of aerodynamic vehicles that its students made.

On a Jan. 12 press preview day, Paul Snyder, CCS chair of transportation design, was on hand to answer questions and make observations about the future of auto design.

Published January 21, 2015

House hunters can have city life or square footage, but not both

If you’re house hunting in metro Detroit, you’ll inevitably come to a point where you need to make a major decision — what means more to you, having a big house or living near Woodward?

That was the question Royal Oak native Karly Wingart had to ask when she started shopping for a home.

“We bought our house in September. We had only been looking for a couple of months, maybe three months,” she said.

Published January 20, 2015

Judge orders state to recognize 300 same-sex marriages

METRO DETROIT — Three hundred same-sex couples who married last spring in Michigan are celebrating after a federal judge sided with them and said the state must recognize their marriages as legal.

In his ruling Jan. 15, Judge Mark Goldsmith, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, said that the couples’ rights to due process and equal protection had likely been violated by the state’s actions. He granted a preliminary injunction and put it on hold for 21 days, at which point the decision will take effect.

Published January 20, 2015

Cheap gas doesn’t faze appeal of efficiency to automakers

Although gas prices remained below $2 per gallon, automakers and suppliers at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit had plenty to say about making their vehicles less thirsty for fuel.

At a Jan. 12 press preview day, Sam Slaughter, president of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, said this year’s auto show is an optimistic one and a big one for the smaller sport-utility vehicle crossover.

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Published January 14, 2015

Birds bring fun to homes and gardens during dull winter

METRO DETROIT — Now is a great time to add bird feeders near your home or garden to provide color, song and activity during the drab winter months. Bird feeders also provide a sure food source during a period when birds’ normal fare, such as insects and berries, is scarce.

Kim Sherwin, a park interpreter at the Stony Creek Metropark Nature Center, said that feeders are a relaxing way to enjoy nature while not having to leave the comfort of your home.

Published January 12, 2015

Low gas prices fuel jubilation at the pump

Recent gas prices have dropped almost as fast as the ball on New Year’s Eve.

According to AAA Michigan’s Fuel Gauge Report, state prices for regular unleaded gasoline fell as of Jan. 4 to a statewide average of around $1.91 per gallon, which was about $1.41 cheaper than during the same point in 2014.

This put Michigan as having the sixth-cheapest average gas prices among its fellow states, the report said.

That week, metro Detroit’s average stood at approximately $1.93 per gallon.

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Published January 7, 2015

Get it together for the new year

METRO DETROIT — In the fall of 2012, Michelle Bonsu was stopped in her tracks when she glanced in the mirror and did not recognize her reflection.

The native Detroiter — who recently moved to Chicago — said she felt lost in the shuffle because she didn’t set enough time aside for herself.

The wife and mother of four said she now recognizes herself after losing 30 pounds and gaining her life back.

Published January 7, 2015

Marsala is Pantone’s color of 2015

Feeling blue?

A person’s emotions can be directly affected by the colors expressed in a room, according to Dr. Howard Belkin, a psychiatrist affiliated with William Beaumont Hospital.

And although Belkin could not reference related studies, anecdotally, he said, people are responsive to their environment in ways that cannot necessarily be measured.

Published January 5, 2015

It’s not too late to minimize winter car problems

Although the Christmas presents have been opened and a new year has started, it still isn’t too late to buy a few important items to keep in your vehicle during the cold winter months.

According to Susan Hiltz, public affairs director at AAA Michigan, winter is no time to get complacent, even if temperatures weren’t so frigid in December. She recommended that drivers remember to check some important parts of their cars as well as supplies.

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Published December 29, 2014

Auto show gets ready for spotlight in 2015

As gas prices drop below $2.50 a gallon, a fresh wave of optimism is fueling representatives’ hopes for the 2015 North American International Auto Show, which will return to Detroit in January.

The auto show will first preview its automaker and supplier exhibits to the media Jan. 12-13. Then the public show will begin Jan. 17 and last until Jan. 25.

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Published December 24, 2014

Coping with grief during the holidays

METRO DETROIT — Grief is like a rollercoaster. And the best way to handle it is to get swept up in the ride.

That’s one way Ron Gries likes to describe it. The Bloomfield Township man lost his wife to illness in 1997, when he was 60. Since then, he’s become a volunteer for Hospice of Michigan (HOM), and made a ministry of counseling survivors on grief management. He’s even authored a book on the subject — “Through Death to Life.”

Published December 24, 2014

Watch your speed, distance when winter driving

Cars move on wheels instead of skis or ice skates, so safe driving tips are essential when navigating through metro Detroit this winter.

Shellie Simmons, co-owner of Alpine Driving School in Southfield, said one of the simplest things a driver can do to avoid a crash is slow down.

“You have to reduce your speed whenever there is any type of adverse weather conditions,” she said.

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Published December 17, 2014

Consider the car when purchasing gifts for others

Shoppers who are fine-tuning their gift-giving ideas for the holiday season may want to consider the drivers in their lives.

Bill Griffin, owner of Griffin’s Neighborhood Auto Clinic in Farmington Hills, said his business offers a VIP voucher for $79.95 that covers more than $500 worth of services and discounts.

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Published December 17, 2014

Experts offer holiday-design tips to make guest rooms glow

With Christmas just days away, design experts want you to make the most out of your guest bedroom for visitors to enjoy this holiday season.

Christine Jackson, owner of Birmingham-based bedding store Scandia Home, who designs and makes decorations, said making guests feel pampered is one of many great ways to welcome them in holiday style.

“If you have people coming in and they’ve been traveling, by the time your guests get to you, it is nice to have a room that will facilitate a good night’s sleep,” she said.

Published December 17, 2014

Celebrate the holidays with miniature memories

Whether it’s festive food or tree trimming traditions, many families practice their own holiday habits — the sure-fire signs that yuletide greetings are right around the corner.

For some people, these memories come in the form of Christmas villages — pint-sized portrayals of peaceful villages, complete with residents, stores and homes.

The Christmas village tradition is something Cindy Roback understands well.

Published December 10, 2014

Don’t take a holiday vacation from safe driving

’Tis the season for travel and merriment, but road safety experts are spreading the word that drivers need to be responsible during the holidays.

Susan Hiltz, public affairs director for AAA Michigan, said lower gas prices, which have hovered below $3 per gallon recently, could affect people’s driving decisions in the coming weeks.

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Published December 10, 2014

Local charitable organizations have your gift-giving needs covered

METRO DETROIT — Sometimes when you give a little, you can even get a little in return.

This holiday season, lots of nonprofit organizations around town are selling gift items — from cozy wool socks to teddy bears, stationery and more — with proceeds going to benefit the work they do throughout the year to make our communities a better place.

Published December 10, 2014

The holidays may be a time for reverence, but there’s room for revelry, too

METRO DETROIT — Somewhere among the glittering ornaments, the elegant tapers and the crystal champagne flutes, there’s a place for holiday revelry that’s a bit less — formal.

Published December 3, 2014

Carbon monoxide: a silent danger that can be stopped

METRO DETROIT — Many things can go wrong inside a house.

One of the scarier potential problems is carbon monoxide. It consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom, and is also known as CO.

Carbon monoxide causes fear because people don’t know it’s around in the first place. It is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas that poses toxic effects when it goes undetected. The gas becomes prevalent in areas when fuel doesn’t burn as intended.