DBusiness Daily Update: DSO Brings Hollywood Hits to Troy’s Somerset Collection July 7, and More

DSO Brings Hollywood Hits to Somerset Collection July 7

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is coming to Somerset Collection July 7 to entertain audiences with Hollywood hits from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" to "Jurassic Park."

The 70-piece DSO, conducted by Steven Jarvi, will perform "Hooray for Hollywood" from 7-8 p.m. in Somerset Collection's North Grand Court. Guests can get front row seats or view the performance the second-and-third-story atrium balconies, hearing the overture to "West Side Story," "The Magnificent Seven," the theme to "Jurassic Park" and "Harry's Wondrous World" from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. During the performance, six audience members will be selected to receive season tickets to the DSO.

"The DSO is one of the best orchestras in the nation and we are so proud to have this renowned talent in our community and honored to have them perform at Somerset Collection," says Nate Forbes, managing partner of The Forbes Company.

Rally House Opens New Store in Allen Park

Rally House, the sports team apparel company, has opened a new store — Rally House Fairlane Green — in Allen Park.

"This new location is our closest to downtown Detroit and an easy stop for anyone heading to Comerica, Little Caesars Arena, or Ford Field," says Monika Ross district manager for Rally House. "We look forward to meeting more Detroit fans and helping them get stocked up with gear for their favorite Michigan teams."

The store carries brands like ’47, New Era, Nike, and more. It also carries gear from professional and collegiate teams including the Michigan State Spartans, Michigan Wolverines, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and others.

Patrons can peruse a wide range of localized merchandise for area favorites such as Stroh's Beer, Detroit Distillery, General Motors Co., and others.

For more information, visit here.

The Harrison Collection: A New Development in Royal Oak

The Harrison Collection, a new development in Royal Oak, is the only building within walking distance to downtown Royal Oak that offers private gated parking, a pool, clubhouse, hot tub, multiple outdoor entertaining areas, a private rooftop deck, and is dog friendly.

The development also boasts a "chic modern design" with many customization options.

Located at 533 E. Harrison St., Royal Oak, The Harrison Collection features gourmet kitchens with stainless steel appliances and quartz surfaces overlooking a large great room with premium windows and a private balcony. The top floor has a separate rooftop terrace, an owner's bedroom suite with walk-in closets and an elegant bath, and a second bedroom with attached bath and walk-in closet.

They also have an upper-level laundry room, plus a one-car heated garage and first-floor office.

The base price for a two-bedroom unit is $625,000. Three-bedroom units start at $695,00. Pam Stoler and Ashley Mann from The Agency Hall & Hunter are representing the sellers.

Henry Ford Health Study Finds Pre-procedure CT Imaging Beneficial for Certain Heart Cases

Findings of a Henry Ford Health study published in the Journal of American Heart Association from researchers in the Center for Structural Heart Disease (Division of Cardiology and Division of Radiology) show Henry Ford's pioneering use of 3-D computed tomography (CT) imaging for planning left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is associated with higher successful device implantation rates, shorter procedural times, and less frequent changes in device sizes.

LAAO is a non-surgical procedure that uses a transcatheter, through a small tube the size of a straw, to seal the left atrial appendage, a small sac in the muscle wall of the left atrium, which is the top left chamber of the heart. This procedure can reduce the risk of blood clots that can lead to stroke and eliminate the need to take blood thinning medication for patients with non-valvular AFib.

"The standard method for imaging the heart to guide LAAO procedures is two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), which uses ultrasound waves to make a detailed picture of the heart," says Dr. Dee Dee Wang, director of structural heart imaging at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and the study's senior author. "This study aimed to assess the value of adding 3Dimensional CT imaging to that process, versus using only TEE imaging, to make that detailed picture. Our findings indicate significant benefit by adding CT imaging, which uses x-ray to help create a more comprehensive three-dimensional image of the heart."

Dr. William O’Neill, director of the Henry Ford Center for Structural Disease, says: "CT imaging allows us to take all guesswork out of device implantation. We know that we can safely close the appendage and have a success of 98 percent when imaging is available."

The 3-D model helps structural heart interventional cardiologists like O’Neill choose a device that fits the patient's heart's unique anatomy, making the procedure safer and more effective.

To close the left atrial appendage, an FDA approved device called WATCHMAN is implanted in the heart via a catheter-based, minimally invasive procedure. Once implanted, the WATCHMAN device fits into the left atrial appendage and permanently seals off that heart muscle pocket, making the clot-collecting pocket off limits and decreasing the stroke risk dramatically as a result.

In this study, researchers retrospectively reviewed all LAAO procedures using the WATCHMAN performed at a single center from May 2015 to December 2019. During this time, a total of 485 LAAOs were performed using the WATCHMAN device, including 328 (67.6 percent) cases who underwent additional CT for preprocedural planning and 157 (32.4 percent) cases using stand‐alone TEE for guidance.

For more information, visit here.

Wildlife Habitat Council Recognizes Novi's ITC for Conservation Efforts at Headquarters

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) recognized ITC Holdings Corp. in Novi for its "exemplary leadership" in corporate conservation during the recent WHC Conservation Conference in Detroit.

ITC received the 2022 WHC Gold Tier Program Award and WHC Forests Project Award for various projects at its corporate headquarters.

Encompassing 92 acres, ITC's corporate campus features a naturalized transmission corridor, diverse woodlands, open green space, wetlands, as well as a nature trail and a large pond. The campus also is home to a corridor demonstration and pollinator garden including native species, bluebird nesting boxes, and bat roosting boxes.

The grounds are maintained year-round under sustainable environmental principles utilizing native plantings, invasive species removal, wildlife trial cameras, and annual flora and fauna surveys.

"Our work at ITC is focused on providing a greater grid for a greener future," says Mike McNulty, environmental manager at ITC. "That longstanding focus extends not only to our corporate campus, but is also evident throughout our entire footprint and how we build, operate and maintain our electric transmission systems. We’re honored to be recognized by WHC."

Detroit Apple Developer Academy Celebrates First Graduating Class

Apple, Michigan State University and the Gilbert Family Foundation recently celebrated the accomplishments of graduates from the first cohort of the Detroit Apple Developer Academy.

The academy in Detroit is the first in the United States, launched as part of Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. The free program offers students an opportunity to become entrepreneurs and app developers by learning the fundamentals of coding, design, marketing, and project management — with an emphasis on inclusivity and making a positive impact in local communities.

"Ten months ago, we opened the doors to the developer academy with a shared vision for advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and building leaders, developers and entrepreneurs who could make an impact on their local communities," says Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr., president of MSU. "Today, we celebrate nearly 100 graduates and their remarkable accomplishments which will undoubtedly make a positive impact on the city of Detroit and our state for many years to come."

The 2022 graduates range in age from 18 to 64 and come from diverse backgrounds with a variety of educational experiences. They received 10 months of comprehensive and intensive app development and entrepreneurial training, with all equipment needed for iOS development provided as part of the program. Over the course of the program, graduates developed new apps now available on — or coming soon to — the App Store that address a range of consumer needs, including travel, health and wellness, augmented reality games and more. The iOS app economy supports more than 2.2 million jobs across the U.S., including 45,000 in Michigan.

Following graduation, academy students have secured employment with such companies as General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Accenture, Rocket Mortgage, and others to leverage their expertise in coding, business, design, and technology project management. Additionally, some students are staying with the academy to participate in its internship program, while others are continuing their education.

"We are proud to invest in the Apple Developer Academy and, most importantly, these nearly 100 graduates," says Jennifer Gilbert, co-founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation. "As entrepreneurs, developers, and doers, these students will make a significant impact in everything they pursue.

"This impactful partnership with Apple and MSU will continue providing equitable access to opportunities like these, so that underrepresented industries are more inclusive and reflect the diversity of our city and our world."

Tickets On Sale for 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State

Tickets are now available for the 2022 Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic at Wayne State University in Detroit, which starts the 2022 MHSAA high school football season Aug. 25-27.

Tickets, which sell for $12, can be purchased here. One ticket provides admission for both games on the day of the ticket purchased. A portion of ticket proceeds benefits the participating schools. Fans will be required to bring their electronic device to activate the ticket at the gate.

The Xenith Prep Kickoff Classic will open at 4 p.m. Aug. 25, with the event lid-lifter between Birmingham Brother Rice and Macomb Dakota followed by Sterling Heights Stevenson vs. West Bloomfield at 7 p.m. On Aug. 26, Allen Park will face Downriver League rival Wyandotte Roosevelt at 4 p.m. with Belleville taking on Novi at 7 p.m. in the nightcap. On Aug. 27, Dexter will open against Grosse Pointe South at 1 p.m., followed by River Rouge vs. Cedar Springs in the event finale at 4 p.m.

EY Names Barbara Yolles-Ludwig 2022 Entrepreneur Of The Year

Barbara Yolles-Ludwig, CEO of Bingham Farms-based LUDWIG+, a woman-owned brand actualization and business acceleration company, was named the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year for Michigan and Northwest Ohio by Ernst & Young (EY).

An independent panel of judges selected Yolles-Ludwig based on her entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

"I could not be prouder of the team I am privileged to work with every day at LUDWIG+," says Yolles-Ludwig. "At this time three years ago, we were not even officially a company yet. So, it is beyond gratifying to look back and see how far we’ve come, achieving this level of success in such a short time."

Since its launch three years ago, LUDWIG+ has experienced 600 percent growth. Today, the company has more than 50 full-time employees and serves a diverse list of clients in the areas of financial services, health care, technology, and a variety of other categories.

"I think the last couple years has really revealed the power of what culture can do for business. It's what gets people excited to come to work every day," Yolles-Ludwig says. "It's what motivates them and unleashes their potential. And that's what's going to drive your business."

As a regional winner, Yolles-Ludwig now will be considered by the national independent panel of judges for the 2022 National Entrepreneur Of The Year, which will be announced in November.

Below-average Harmful Algal Bloom Predicted for Western Lake Erie

Researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and their partners are forecasting that western Lake Erie will experience a smaller than average harmful algal bloom this summer, which would make it less severe than 2021 and more akin to what was seen in the lake in 2020.

This year's bloom is expected to measure 3.5, with a potential range of 2-4 on the severity index — whereas last year's bloom was measured at a 6, according to the annual forecast released today by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which funds the research.

The index is based on the bloom's biomass — the amount of algae — during the peak 30 days of the bloom. An index above 5 indicates more severe blooms. Blooms over 7 are particularly severe, with extensive scum formation and coverage affecting the lake. The largest blooms occurred in 2011, with a severity index of 10, and 2015, with a severity index of 10.5.

"While this year's forecast is similar to the long-term average, the long-term average is not the goal. We cannot just cross our fingers and hope that drier weather will keep us safe," says University of Michigan aquatic ecologist Don Scavia, professor emeritus at the School for Environment and Sustainability and a member of the forecast team.

"These blooms are driven by diffuse phosphorus sources from the agriculturally dominated Maumee River watershed. It is promising that Ohio and the Environmental Protection Agency have finally committed to a nutrient-reduction program similar to those that have worked in other watersheds.

"But persistent and aggressive action to control diffuse phosphorus sources within that framework will be required to meet the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement."

Lake Erie blooms consisting of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are capable of producing microcystin, a known liver toxin that poses a risk to human and wildlife health. Such blooms may force cities and local governments to treat drinking water, close beaches and can harm vital local economies by preventing people from fishing, swimming, boating, and visiting the shoreline.