West Bloomfield, MI May 2024

AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

Whether you desire a special dining experience or have an occasion to share with your family or friends, Orchard Lake Mezza is the right place to enjoy real, exceptional cuisine.

You will love our Mediterranean dishes from Kabob, Shawarma, Hommous, Tabbouli, Fattoush to many other delicious fo ods.

4189 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI 48323

248.865.0000

ORCHARDLAKEMEZZA.COM

S h o p O n l i n e o r V i s i t O u r S h o w r o o m

A Salute to the Women Who Shape Our World

For many of us, Mother's Day is a celebration. For many others, it's a sad reminder of what we've lost along the way. Whether your mom is with us or not, let's take this opportunity to celebrate women's resilience, courage, and perseverance.

Women shape the world we live in, from trailblazing leaders breaking barriers in boardrooms, to unsung heroes making a difference in their communities, to nurturing mothers, devoted daughters, supportive sisters, sensitive spouses and spirited friends. Women enrich our lives with their love, wisdom, and powerful presence. Their influence is profound, their legacy enduring.

Inside this issue, you'll find the inspiring story of a foster mother who created an achingly heartwarming resource for foster children; ideas for a mother-daughter Mother's Day to remember; events featuring celebrated women authors; and a recipe that doubles as an appreciation from our editor, Marshall Zweig, to his wife Heather for transforming his strict low-carb diet into a nightly adventure in yumminess.

There's also an in-depth interview with the legendary Jackie Kallen, who in June will become the first woman boxing manager inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Finally, I want to acknowledge our staff photographer, Amy Gillespie, whose images add verve and luster to our publication.

Our world has been transformed by the remarkable achievements and contributions of women from all walks of life. As we honor the women who have touched our lives profoundly, let's also reflect on both the progress we've made, and the work that still lies ahead to achieve true equality and inclusivity for all.

To the extraordinary women who encourage us, challenge us, and beautify our existence. May their stories serve as a testament to the power of determination and the triumph of the human spirit.

With deepest respect and admiration,

JOE GEAGEA, PUBLISHER

May 2024

PUBLISHER

Joe Geagea | joe.geagea@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Marshall Zweig | marshall.zweig@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Marshall Zweig

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Amy Gillespie

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Josh Klein

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

Departments

Pulling No Punches

Profiling Jackie Kallen, who in June will become boxing’s first female Hall of Fame manager

Mom-Daughter Mother's Day

Whether your relationship with mom is strong or strained, we've got magical Mother's Day ideas.

Keto Crustless Pizza

Appreciation from our editor to his wife for bringing pizza back to his low-carb life

Filled With The Right Stuff

Inside the Oakland County Foster Closet, where foster kids can get everything they need—including respect

West

Bloomfield

Adult Education Register NOW for ELL Classes!

Learn English, meet new people & make friends at your West Bloomfield ELL class. Join us today to improve your language & connect with the community!

Register from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Students 18 and older are welcome from any district. Spring Session 5: May 13-June 19 (6 weeks)

BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH - Mon/Wed | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | $50

AMERICAN CUSTOMS & CULTURE (ONLINE) - Tuesdays | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | $50

Summer Session: July 9-July 30

AMERICAN CUSTOMS & CULTURE (ONLINE) - Tuesdays | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | $50

7071 Orchard Lake Rd, Suite 100; West Bloomfield, MI 48322 wbsd.org/departments/community-education (248) 539-2390

• DAWN.HANFORD@WBSD.ORG

West Bloomfield Adult Education

Pulling No Punches

Jackie Kallen is the first woman manager inducted into boxing's Hall of Fame. Here's her hard-fought story.

Editor’s note: this interview has been edited. No context has been changed. I’m not surprised when Jackie Kallen tells me she grew up surrounded by men.

“I only had a brother growing up. My dad was one of three brothers and they were all close. I married a guy that was one of four brothers. Then I had two sons.”

Jackie embraced what she calls “that testosterone-driven side of me.”

“I love sports, I love fast cars, I love gambling. But I still have the girly girl. Even in a boxing gym where it was dirty and sweaty and hot, I would be doing my nails, my hair, my makeup, all dressed to the nines—I kept my femininity always front and center.”

Jackie’s balance of traditional masculine and feminine traits took many men in the boxing world aback.

“Initially there’d be, 'What is she doing here? She looks like she got out of the beauty shop.’ Eventually they started to understand that's just my exterior, my package. So after a while they’d forget the nails and the hair and the makeup and the jewelry, and just talk.”

In 1979, Kallen interviewed now-legendary fighter Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns, who was just 20 at the time.

“I see this guy coming into the ring…I tell you I was scared. I looked in his eyes and I thought, ‘Whoever has to face him, he’s gonna get hurt.’ It was the most deadly stare I'd seen in my life.

“He knocks his opponent out, the fight’s over. The guy he knocked out, Tommy’s helping pick him up, he’s hugging him, ‘Are you okay, are you okay?’ And he's got the softest kindness brown eyes. I went, ‘Is that the same guy?’ I mean, how you can go from being an assassin to being a pacifist lover? And the beauty of the movements. It was like watching a ballet but a violent ballet: they slip, they slide, they weave. And there was a reason for every movement, there was a whole strategy to this ballet. Plus these guys, a lot of them were fighting not just in the ring, but in their lives. I was fascinated.”

Beloved trainer Emmanuel Steward took Jackie under his wing. “Emmanuel didn't look at me as a woman,” says Jackie. “He looked at me as someone who loved the sport.”

Steward taught her everything about boxing, including how to cut an injured fighter’s swollen eye so he could continue a fight. But Jackie still needed to practice.

“I came to the gym with a razor, I said ‘I want to work on cuts today, who volunteers?’ Nobody did. So I went to the market and I got some purple plums and I squeezed them till they were all like mushy juicy, and then I sliced open the plum and as it started to leak out, I'd stop it with the Avitene and the Vaseline, I'd hold down the gauze pad to soak up the blood. I would practice on plums.”

Jackie became a manager, setting up fights, negotiating contracts—and being her fighters’ best friend.

“I’d help them open their first checking account, buy their first car…they became part of my family. I’m still in touch with all of the guys I've managed. They’re still my friends.”

"[Guys in the boxing world would say] ‘Why don't you go into modeling? You don’t belong here.’ Who's to say where I belong? Me. I decide where I belong."

How did she pick who she managed?

“Natural organically-given ability. Great discipline, the last one in the gym. And the third part, which is the most intangible, is heart. Do you have heart? I’ve had great fighters who’d get a guy hurt but they wouldn't finish him. You got to want to go in there and destroy. So it's a combination. And if I have all three in a guy, I know I got something.”

Jackie believed she had something in James Toney, and she was right. Now considered one of the best middleweights of all time, Toney won his first title in 1991 as a 20-1 underdog, with Jackie as his manager.

“It was a fairy tale. That surreal moment of knowing that now people are going to take you seriously. I was on top of the world.”

It was a far cry from when Jackie first started in boxing. Harassment of women was the norm.

“‘You want your kid on my card? Show me how bad you want it.’ Or ‘Why don't you go into modeling? You don’t belong here.’ Who's to say where I belong? Me. I decide where I belong.

“At one fight they wouldn’t let me in the ring with my fighter. They said, ‘Go put on a bathing suit. I'll give you a ring card. Walk around, round one, round two.’ Is that all a woman's good for?”

Jackie was so unique that Hollywood came calling, casting Meg Ryan as Jackie in Against the Ropes . “Here I was, all glammed up, going into boxing gyms…I guess I was an object of fascination to people,” Jackie speculates, "because I didn't look the part.”

Though Jackie still manages, she’s also found a new love: motivational speaking. She loves sharing her life lessons.

“I have four heart stents. I’ve had two lumpectomies. I have glaucoma. I'm legally blind in my right eye. I have sleep apnea. I’ve had two malignant melanomas. Those are all the downsides that we all deal with. You just take them, file them away, and get on with your life. If you get knocked down in boxing and you're lying on the canvas, get back up again. That’s the only option. It’s a metaphor for life. If you lay there, they're going to count you out. You don't want to be counted out in life. If you lose a round, it's okay. Life has more rounds. So if you get knocked down, get back up. We're all fighting something. Just keep moving forward. Life is a big, big windshield with a little tiny rearview mirror. We’re not meant to look back. We're meant to look forward."

"You don't want to be counted out in life. If you get knocked down, get back up. We're all fighting something."

MOM-DAUGHTER

MOTHER'S DAY

Make mom's special day one you can both enjoy

Mother-daughter relationships range from harmonious to strained, from deep friendships to simmering tension. Whether you find mom a challenge or a treasure, these Mother’s Day ideas practically guarantee you’ll both enjoy your time together.

• Best for relaxing: day spas offer quiet bonding time in peaceful surroundings. At Zealand Spa Salon in Commerce Township (zealandspasalon.com) Mother’s Day gift cards are up to $25 off if you mention West Bloomfield City Lifestyle.

• For for a peaceful hang at Oakland County’s breathtaking parks like Cranbrook, Kensington, and Independence Oaks, you can enjoy a convo while you picnic, hike, or birdwatch.

• If you have trouble making conversation: the Cranbrook Art Museum or the award-winning Detroit Institute of Arts (free for Oakland County residents) can spark a conversation about art, not about each other.

• If she’s into fresh food: the Oakland County Farmers’ Market in Pontiac (248858-5495) offers hearty produce, artisanal foods, home decor and more. The market is open from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Or…

• ...if she likes cooking, take a chill cooking class at the Mirepoix Cooking School in Royal Oak (mirepoixcookingschool.com),

• If she’s crafty: no, we don’t mean the ‘slipping-advice-in-during-a-casual-convo’ type of crafty. Make Raku pottery at the Clawson Clay Guild (clawsonclayguild. com) for a pulse-pounding experience and uniquely beautiful art. Or try an Expressive Arts class at ArtWorks! Studio in Walled Lake (artworksmichigan.com).

and enjoy a delicious meal together too. Mirepoix teaches a variety of cuisines, from Indian to sushi to Chinese takeout.

• If she’s a shopaholic: there’s nothing like a little mother-daughter ‘retail therapy.’ Go boutique-hopping in downtown Birmingham or downtown Rochester and enjoy lunch at a charming café.

• If she likes to be entertained: laugh at One Night Stan’s Comedy Club in Waterford (onenightstans.club) with a different comedian every weekend in May. Or thrill to tableside magic at The Magic Soiree in Troy (themagicsoiree.com).

• If she’s still isolating: if mom’s still masking, raise a virtual glass with a Michigan By The Bottle (mbtbtasting.com) Virtual House Party. A host leads you through the wines and beers and answers questions.

YOUR SMILE DESERVES THE BEST: DR. ADAM FIENMAN

Experience exceptional dental care with a warm, personal touch in Metro Detroit.

At Dr. Fienman’s office, we believe that visiting the dentist should be a positive, stress-free experience. That’s why we’ve created a truly exceptional dental practice, where state-of-the-art technology meets a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Our goal is to make you feel like part of our extended family from the moment you walk through our doors.

“Our goal is to help you keep your smile for a lifetime.  I find people are much happier that way.  We want patients to be so happy with our office that they refer their friends and family for the same great care."

—Dr. Adam Fienman

With almost 20 years of experience, Dr. Fienman is dedicated to providing the highest quality dental care to our community. His passion for his craft and commitment to staying at the forefront of the latest techniques and technologies ensure that you receive the best possible treatment.

But what really sets us apart is our incredible team. We’re a close-knit group of professionals who genuinely care about your well-being and strive to make every visit a pleasant one. From our friendly front desk staff to our skilled hygienists and assistants, we work together seamlessly to deliver a truly exceptional dental experience. Our cozy waiting area and private treatment rooms are designed with your comfort in mind, and our furry friend Mozzy, the office therapy dog, is always on hand to greet you with a wagging tail.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

At Adam Fienman DDS, we’re not just your traditional dental practice; we’re a forward-thinking team dedicated to leveraging technology to elevate your dental care experience.

We believe that staying at the forefront of technological advancements in dentistry is crucial for delivering the highest standard of care.

GUIDED IMPLANT SURGERY

At our practice, we’re thrilled to offer guided implant surgery, an innovative technology that enhances the accuracy and comfort of the dental implant process. Using advanced 3D imaging and CAD/CAM design, we can virtually plan your implant placement for optimal positioning before your surgery day. On surgery day, the guide ensures efficient and predictable implant placement. After healing, digital impressions create a 3D-printed model for your beautiful new crown. With guided surgery, you can enjoy a customized experience focused on your comfort every step of the way.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR A LIFETIME OF SMILES

At the end of the day, our goal is to be more than just your dental care provider, we want to be your trusted partner in maintaining a healthy, beautiful, confident smile for life. We’ll work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs and keep you informed every step of the way.

LISTEN TO OUR VALUED PATIENTS:

“Dr. Fienman’s office is exceptional. His excellent staff and his professionalism made me feel very comfortable and relaxed.”

“Had a wonderful experience! I needed another opinion on some dental work and Dr. Fienman and his staff couldn’t have been kinder! Highly recommend!”

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOURSELF!

Call us today at 248-539-3600 or visit fienmandds.com to schedule your appointment.

Keto Crustless Pizza

CELEBRATING MY WIFE HEATHER, WHO BROUGHT

PIZZA BACK TO MY LOW-CARB LIFE

I bounced from diet to diet all my life: vegetarian, vegan, raw, intermittent fasting. Nothing felt right. By 2015, I was 80 pounds overweight and sick.

A nutritionist recommended keto. Five months later, I was thin and healthy. Simply put, keto gave me my life back.

The cost: eating for enjoyment. I told myself I didn’t miss deliciousness. But I did. My wife Heather was determined to bring joy back to my meals—and she started with this incredible dish. I remember she called me to the table and I said, “What’s this?”

“Pizza,” she said.

“For who?”

“For you.”

In shock, I began distributing the pieces between my plate, hers and our son’s. She stopped me.

“It’s all for you,” she said.

I bit into an experience that tasted like my birthday and winning the lottery all in one. I started to cry.

“I never thought I’d have this taste in my mouth again,” I said.

To this day, I.prefer her keto pizza to any pizza anywhere.

Heather, I’m grateful.

• Makes: two servings

• Prep Time: 7 minutes

• Cook Time: 10 minutes

ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 9 slices pepperoni

• 1 tablespoon sliced black olives

• 4 fresh basil leaves

• 1/2 small avocado

instructions

1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the avocado and cheese until avocado is evenly distributed.

2. Warm a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Spread the cheese and avocado mixture evenly over the surface of the skillet. Cook until the cheese is almost fully melted, then layer on the pepperoni slices and olives. Continue to cook until a crust starts to form. The cheese will harden, turn brown on the bottom, and naturally lift off the skillet.

3. Once the crust has formed, turn off the heat, slide the pizza onto a plate, and garnish with basil leaves. Slice into 4 pieces and serve immediately.

• Calories: 463

• Fat: 38g

• Protein: 26g

• Net carbs: 5g

• Fiber: 8g

notes

Feel free to be creative with your toppings; bear in mind that the nutrition information will vary depending on ingredients. Also, my wife sprinkles basil, oregano, salt and pepper into the cheese and avocado mixture; she suggests you let the basic recipe spark your creativity like it did hers.

THIN-CRUST SKILLET PIZZA (LOW CARB, GLUTEN-FREE, SUGAR-FREE)

Right Stuff

When the kids come into our closet, we want to give dignity and respect back.

Michele Austin wasn’t okay with her new son having an empty closet.

“I became a foster parent because my partner at the time and I couldn't have children ourselves. So we decided to foster and we got our first foster placement, my son Timothy— he’s 22 now. And he didn't come with anything. Clothes that he had on that were too big for him, a duffel bag and a small bag of toys.”

Michele networked with people and got Timothy more essential items. But as she and her partner foster-parented more kids, Michele noticed “every kid after didn’t come with anything. We just got to the point of ‘how are we going to afford to take care of these kids?’ The state gives you some money but not a whole lot.”

Michele stumbled on Foster Closet of Michigan, a fledgling women-run organization with an all-female board. Within a month, she was president of the nonprofit, which grew so rapidly they had to split up by counties. Michele now runs the Oakland County Foster Closet (ocfostercloset.org).

“In the 11 years that I've been running the Closet, it’s the same story over and over again. Can you imagine coming into care with the underwear on your butt and maybe a pair of bags? So when they come in, one of the first things we're doing is finding socks, underwear, diapers, wipes—all of those essential things that they need.”

In 2018, Michele expanded her services to include low-income families, as well as children who have entered Child Protective Services.

“I am low-income. I live in a double-wide trailer. There are times that I'm scraping by.

But man, I will help as much as I can because the Foster Closet blesses me constantly. If I can give you something that makes you feel dignified and respected and all of those things, you stand taller, you act more confident. You can become a more productive person if you’re filled with the right stuff.”

So far the Closet has helped almost 12,000 children with close to 300,000 items. Anyone who qualifies for the Oakland County Foster Closet gets everything for free.

“I can't tell you how many foster parents I've been registering, and I let him know that everything is free, they don't have to pay for anything—and they just look at me like I have three heads. And the tears just roll.”

Many foster parents don't know what they'd do without the Oakland County Foster Closet’s help.

“[It’s] taken a huge weight off of my shoulders and let me focus on just bonding with the baby,” says Joy. Other foster moms agree: “It helped me be able to clothe my kids,” Iris says. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.” Bianca adds, “They have brought peace of mind.” And “when I needed help after a terrible crisis," Vykeisha says, "the OCFC were there for me at my time of need.”

Michele understands the parents’ emotions. In total, she fostered 18 children.

“The amount of trauma that they deal with, every single one of my kinds, it’s unbelievably heartbreaking. Showing up to a stranger's house you don't know—you’re with some adult that told you you had to leave your family's home. It doesn't matter what the drama was, doesn't matter what the abuse was.

And by the way, you have your stuff in a garbage bag. I mean, talk about degrading. So when the kids come into our closet, we want to give dignity and respect back.”

Michele starts by talking to both the adults and the children with respect.

“When families come in and register, we have a spot for non-binary. A foster mom was almost embarrassed to say that the daughter preferred men's underwear, and I looked at her straight in the face and said, ‘Everything I wear is men's clothing. I don't want to be a boy. I'm just more comfortable in those clothes.’ Everyone that walks through our doors are people first. They are

not defined by their situation or circumstance. They are people needing help, not judgement.”

After a conversation, where each foster child gets their choice of a suitcase, a duffel bag, or a backpack to transport their new stuff, it’s time for them to stock up on all the items we often take for granted: brand-new clothes, toiletries and school supplies.

“Our facility is beautiful; it’s set up like a boutique. It's bright. It's labeled. It's clean. It has good quality clothes. We have our ‘Birthday In A Bag’ program…just a little bag that has cake mix and frosting, candles, napkins, decorations, just to throw a little party. Because If I can bring some joy to a kid, I want to do that.”

CONTINUED >

Foster kids can choose original artwork to decorate the the walls of their new room. The paintings are donated by volunteer children. Every kid also gets a heartwarming “Somebody Loves You” box, with a brand-new stuffed animal friend.

And then there’s the toy room.

“We have a toy room that is completely filled with brand new toys. I’ve seen many, many, many, many kids that are in foster care come into that toy room—and they don’t move. It’s because they don’t think they can. I have to tell them, ‘You can pick out anything you want.’ That toy room is fantastic. I want them to experience opening a new toy, taking out a new toy… breaking a new toy.”

Michele couldn’t work her magic without the efforts of the local community. “Howard Tapper, of Tappers Fine Jewelry, has donated coats to us for the past seven years—brand new, with tags on them. Park West Gallery’s foundation helps agedout kids. It really does take a village.”

That village includes volunteers like a group from Vibe Credit Union, who were hard at work folding donated clothes while we interviewed Michele. It also includes construction company owner Vinessa Palermo, a Foster Closet board member.

“Seeing the statistics and the number of items [the Closet has] donated, it really really touched me,” Vinessa says. “I’m adopted myself, so it really hit hard.”

Michele adds, “I can't be a foster parent anymore. But I can do this because we can all do something. Everybody can do something and I do this and I love it. Mondays are my favorite day of the week. I can't wait for the weekend to get over so I can get back in the closet. How funny does that sound?”

If you want to help, says Michele, the Closet is filled to the brim with items. What it needs is a bigger home.

“I started in my house. We’re in 4,000 square feet—we are still out of space. I have two storage units. I want to try for a forever home. I have spent 11 years asking and begging for that because to do good, we got to stop worrying about the bottom line.”

Oakland County Foster Closet aids 250 children every month, and holds events for foster children all year round. To be a part of their mission, or to help them find their forever home, email Michele at info@ocfostercloset. org or call (248) 419-4487.

I can’t be a foster parent anymore. But I can do this because we can all do something. Everybody can do something and I do this.

events

Food Truck Tuesdays

West Bloomfield Civic Center | 11:30 AM

Every Tuesday from 11:30 to 1:30, you can sample extraordinary cuisine from some of the area's most creative chefs. May 7: Cousins Maine Lobster, May 14: The Grilled Wrap, May 21: Simply Spanish, May 28: The Great Greek Look for the big tent in the parking lot. Indulge your inner foodie! Vendors subject to change; check online at wbtownship.org.

Come see bestselling historical fiction author Melanie Benjamin

West Bloomfield Main Library | 6:00 PM

Melanie Benjamin is the author of two  New York Times bestsellers:  Alice I Have Been, chronicling the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Aviator's Wife, about the wife of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. Melanie will be speaking and signing books, which will also be available for purchase at the event.

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