business & professional >> briefs Schwartz Moves To Rock Ventures Detroit broadcast journalist Robin Schwartz has been named public relations director for Bedrock Real Estate Services, where she will support the company's real estate acquisi- tion, development, financing, leasing and tenant communication efforts. She will also work with the Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans public relations teams to promote Dan Gilbert's family of companies as well as investment, employment and placemaking initiatives in downtown Detroit. She began her role on Oct. 20. Schwartz has also been a contributing writer and freelance columnist for the IN for 11 years. She is also a member of the Jewish News Foundation board. Schwartz brings nearly 23 years of broadcast Robin journalism experience to Schwartz her new role. She joins Bedrock from Detroit's Fox affiliate, WJBK- TV, where she has served as a co-anchor of Fox 2's weekend newscasts and as a reporter since 1998. She started her career in radio in 1991 and the following year began work- ing in television as a reporter and morning anchor at an ABC-affiliate in Albany, N.Y. Schwartz has won eight Michigan Emmy awards during her tenure in Detroit, most recently for her half-hour FOX Kids Edition special and for excellence in general assign- ment reporting. She has also been honored by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press. In 2012, she received a Global Energy Initiative achievement award from Fox 2's parent company for her efforts to inspire change within the community. "As a TV reporter in Detroit for nearly 17 years, I've had a front row seat, covering just about every major development in the city and sharing those stories on the eve- ning news" Schwartz said. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to focus exclusively on Detroit's comeback story and to work with the amazing team at Bedrock Real Estate Services making things happen. I believe in Detroit's future. The momentum is building and I can't imagine a more invigorating time to be part of it all" she said. Hope Brown PublicCity PR Join National Consultant Group Detroit-area public relations veterans and husband-and-wife team, Jason Brown and Hope Brown, and their firm, PublicCity PR, have been invited to join a national net- work of public relations professionals called the PRConsultantsGroup (PRCG), as its Michigan representatives. The PRConsultantsGroup, founded in 2000, is made up of senior-level public rela- tions and marketing consultants represent- ing every major market in the United States. Working together and separately on proj- ects, their unique collaborative model has given rise to other networks nationwide. A network not just on paper, PRCG's synergy and sophistication guarantees that a public relations campaign is going to be exe- cuted flawlessly in one or 48 U.S. markets. One of the three co-directors, Lisa Faulkner-Dunne of Dallas, said "We invited Jason, Hope and their firm to join PRConsultantsGroup and we are delighted to have them join our team. Currently, the network members include 40 professional firms in every major media market, featur- ing senior-level expertise on every account and project" PublicCity PR was founded in 2008 by Jason Brown, a public relations executive with 15 years of media and community relations experience. Hope joined the firm as a co-principal in 2012. Hope also has more than 15 years of PR agency experience in strategic commu- nications planning and execution within a variety of industries. Outside of the agency, Jason is the vice- chair of the board of directors for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Michigan Chapter and also serves on the PR/Marketing Committee for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Robbed! Helpful neighbors lead to arrest of thief at Keego Harbor store. j ewish-owned Too Chic Boutique in Keego Harbor was broken into Sunday, Oct. 12; and thanks to some people exiting Mary Donnelly's nearby restaurant, the thief has been cap- tured and the merchandise returned. People leaving the restaurant early Sunday thought something looked odd at the women's clothing store so they alerted police. Police from the Keego, Sylvan Lake and Orchard Lake departments arrived 26 October 23 • 2014 and were able to nab the thief. The man was still inside the shop around 2 a.m. when police arrived, accord- ing to Keego Police Chief Ken Hurst. A police officer from Sylvan Lake tasered the man inside the store, reports said. The store is owned by Irene Goodman, who had this to say on her store's Facebook page: "Thanks to a collabora- tive effort between Keego Harbor, West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake police The new Toyology Toys in Royal Oak The Albert in Detroit Toyology Opens In Royal Oak Broder & Sachse Donate To Habitat For Humanity Broder & Sachse Real Estate Services Inc. donated a variety of home essentials col- lected from its renovation of the former Detroit Griswold Building, now named "The Albert" to Habitat for Humanity Metro ReStores. Originally designed by famed architect Albert Kahn and built in 1929 on the for- mer site of the Miles Theater, the build- ing has 12 floors and features first-floor street-level retail with 127 units/rooms above. This unique Detroit landmark was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Today, the fully renovated build- ing brings luxury apartment living to Detroit's Capitol Park. The donated materials were valued at $132,000 and included cabinetry, kitchen appliances and bathroom fixtures. "We are proud to support Habitat for Humanity's mission to eliminate sub- standard housing, which can pose health and safety risks" said Broder & Sachse President Richard Broder. "Repurposing household materials eliminates waste from landfills. It also increases the standard of living in the community by offering affordable home-improvement options" Habitat for Humanity Metro ReStores sell these materials at 30 to 75 percent below retail cost and make them available to anyone looking to improve their home. Proceeds from the store are used to build affordable housing in Metro Detroit neighborhoods. Aric Klar isn't afraid to act like a kid in a toy store because in some ways, that's what he is. At age 25, Klar is the owner of Toyology Toys. If a customer wants to check out a toy before purchasing it, Klar will open the box himself. "Sometimes, you've got to see it to understand it. A box doesn't do it justice sometimes" he said. A moment later, Klar had a suction cup stuck on his forehead. "This is just a suction-cup building toy" he explained. "These can stick to your head, a window, wherever. Kids can just imagine and play with them, sticking them on the car window or on a restaurant table." Klar wants his toys to get a child's imagination running — and have the child "learn through play" at the same time. Toyology is stocked with what Klar calls "multipurpose, multiuse" toys for children of all ages. There are brain games, science-based activities, musical instruments, safe and chewable toys for newborns, sports games, stuffed ani- mals, remote-controlled planes and cars, and much more. There are also games and puzzles for adults and seniors. Klar owns stores in West Bloomfield, Howell — and now at 119 S. Main St. in Royal Oak. His parents owned Warren Prescriptions in Farmington Hills and that's where Klar got his start selling toys before opening his first store in 2011. departments, this criminal was caught red-handed. "Also a big shout out to Mary Donnelly's for being a watchful neighbor. This is a perfect example of a strong com- munity effort. We are proud to be in such a fine community where people are truly looking out for each other. Other than a big headache and a massive clean up, the police recovered all our merchandise and took some bad people off the street. We are open for business!" ❑ Right: Damage done by the break-in at Too Chic Boutique.