What's next for Joe Faris?

Joe Faris may be off Bravo's Project Runway," but the Troy native is still making his mark in New York's fashion industry. He's working in the Big Apple but regularly travels home to visit family. 

Read more at Detroit Make it Here.

5 Qualities to Look for in Retirement Homes

This was written as a Web-exclusive package for Better-mag.com, which included an article, two sidebars, audio visual clips, an extensive checklist and an informational table. Better-mag.com is not a live Web site but demonstrated as an interactive pdf.  

By Ava T. and Jaya J.

Looking for retirement homes for your parent but don't know where to start? You're not alone. You want the best for your aging parents and luckily the North Shore has an abundance of retirement homes to choose from. But where to start? First, remember to keep in mind your parents' needs--medical care, safety and happiness--rather than getting swept up in fancy amenities such as game rooms or swimming pools.

"There are a million things that people don't look for," says Debra Miller, a geriatric care consultant in Highland Park. "Of course, when you walk through the first time, aesthetically, you use your five senses."

To read the entire article, e-mail Ava at avasjournal@gmail.com

Sidebar 1: How to approach the topic of retirement homes

If you've realized your parent would probably benefit from the social atmosphere and general care retirement homes, congratulations, you've won half the batter. The second half is telling your parent to look at them and convincing he or she that it is to their benefit. It's a difficult position for both the adult child and parents, says Debra Miller a Professional Geriatric Care Manager in Highland Park. Suddenly the adult child, who is used to being a child, has to become an adult in the situation, and all the parent can see when faced with the decision is a black road ahead of them, says Miller.

 To read the entire article, e-mail Ava at avasjournal@gmail.com.

Auto Motives: Trends in Parking at Multifamily Properties

Property managers employ innovative ways to maximize multifamily parking.

When residents drive into the parking garage at Camden Grand Parc Apartments in Washington D.C., all they have to do is pull onto an automatic platform and park. Then, using an electronic card, they activate a parking lift that lowers their car underground. Once residents are ready to leave, they just swipe their electronic card at the garage entrance, and the car is delivered to the ground level automatically.

Instead of having to circle a block multiple times or to stake out a parking garage to fine an open spot, residents at the 105-unit Camden Grand Parc are taking advantage of this 24-hour automatic system. Besides taking the frustration out of the daily pursuit of available parking, another key benefit is the privacy and security the system affords residents, says Carmen Klein, assistant manager for the apartments. For instance, resident can avoid having a stranger drive their car or needing to walk through a dim parking garage at night. 

To read the entire article, go to Mutlifamily Executive Magazine. 

Treks on the Beach

Tired of the same North Shore surf and sand? Hop in the car and in five hours or less, find yourself shore side for some summer sun. Here are our picks for the most bikini-worthy beaches and lakes.

Sail Away 

Carlyle Lake: 5 hours from the North Shore, 284 miles South

The manmade lake was host to the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival Sailing Competition and is a must for the mariner in the family. "Carlyle Lake is known as the premiere sailing lake in the Midwest because we don't have coves and it's a wide open body of water," says Jackie Taylor, Carlyle Lake park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

To read the entire department piece, get a copy of Better magazine. Better was published in July 2008 by the Spring 2008 Medill Publishing Project students. 

THIS PHOTO IS USED WITH PERMISSION OF CARLYLE LAKE.

Democratic lawmakers insist they'll beef up Consumer Product Safety Commission

While urging parents to be vigilant in their holiday shopping, Illinois Democratic members of Congress said they'll press ahead with efforts to improve the safety of children's toys by strengthening the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

The CPSC has called for millions of units of some the most popular toys on the market to be pulled from store shelves, including Thomas the Tank Engine, Dora the Exploreres, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Curious George, Elmo and others. Lead paint and loose magnets are the main reason for recall. Most of they toys are made in China.

To read the entire article, go to www.lipinski.house.gov.