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(248) 543-0340 | www.janetdaviscleaners.com 27607 Woodward Ave., Berkley, MI 48072
APRIL 2025
Manatees, Cheetahs, and Giraffes — Oh My! How My Wife Turned Our Family Into Animal Lovers
Manatees, giraffes, and cheetahs — oh my! Believe it or not, these are just a few animals the Matthews family has called a beloved “pet.” No, we didn’t have these wild beasts roaming our backyard alongside our Bernese mountain dog — they were all different animals my wife and daughters have sponsored over the years. My girls are animal lovers, and while we all enjoy visiting zoos and learning about nature, I’m always impressed by how deep their passion for wildlife goes. National Wildlife Week is April 5–9 this year and is a time to highlight the animals we share the Earth with. I’ve always liked animals just as much as the next person, but my wife’s dedication to protecting them has opened my eyes and encouraged our daughters to be good stewards of the planet. My wife grew up loving animals, and manatees have always been one of her favorites. She even wears a manatee nightgown. When she was younger, her grandmother adopted/sponsored a manatee for her, and for 20 or so years, she’d get updates about the animal. My oldest daughter has followed in her footsteps, sponsoring a cheetah from the Cheetah.org conservation fund. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she got the opportunity to join a Zoom discussion with the organization and learn all about what
sponsorship dollars do for her cheetah. She even got to ask her own question about cheetahs, and she was so excited she called me at work to share everything she learned. My youngest daughter chose to support a giraffe, so we have adopted a whole little safari. We’re lucky to have the Detroit Zoo close by. We’ve visited several different zoos around the country, and it ranks right toward the top. Growing up, my family and I went all the time and we’ve taken our daughters a million times. We’ve attended all their big holiday events, like their Christmas lights show. Even though many animals are dormant in winter, it’s our favorite time of year to visit because there are fewer crowds. No two zoos are quite the same, and Detroit features animals you won’t find everywhere. With my daughter’s love of giraffes, we always stop by to see them, and my family has all gotten the chance to feed them by hand. There’s even an exhibit where kangaroos and emus coexist, and you literally walk in with no barrier between you and these wild creatures. They just are comfortable enough with humans being on the path that they keep their distance. We’re spoiled to be so close to such an excellent zoo. We’ve also visited the Smithsonian and Columbus zoos, so my
daughter could see cheetahs sprinting at full speed. Right after our wedding, my wife and I also got to take a trip to the famous San Diego Zoo. I’ve always respected animals, but my wife has always loved and desired to protect them even more. She believes we’re the invasive species, and it’s incumbent upon us to protect the animal habitats remaining in nature. Animals are conscious creatures, and just because they are not human does not mean they deserve anything less than respect. She’s the type of person who will stop a car ride just to help the turtles cross the road — something she actually did once. She got out and ushered them to safety while I blocked off traffic. Another time, she couldn’t bear to watch a loose dog running in the street. She picked him up, brought him home, and immediately began canvassing the neighborhood. That’s just the animal-loving, kind-hearted person she is.
My wife’s passion for animals has undoubtedly rubbed off on all of us.
Thanks to her, our family doesn’t just adore and respect wildlife — we do our best to protect it, one sponsored animal or rescued pack of turtles on the road at a time. –Kyle Matthews 1 (248) 543-0340
Give Your Winter Coat a Fresh Start Before Storing It Away FROM SNOW TO STORAGE
In many ways, your front entryway is your home’s command center. It’s where some of your most precious possessions reside and the first thing guests see when they visit. Unfortunately, it can also be your home’s most cluttered and disorganized space, leading to everything from desperate, already-late-for-work dashes to find your car keys to pets looking at you quizzically as you embark on a scavenger hunt for their leashes. Here are two quick tips to clear up that all-important space and save you from hustling to find those items that always seem to vanish whenever you need them. Declutter Your Entryway Tips to Master This All- Important Space
As the weather slowly starts to warm up, it’s the perfect time to give your winter coats some love before storing them away for the season. Properly cleaning them refreshes and maintains their condition, ensuring they’ll keep you warm
and stylish for years to come. Before you stow away your favorite jackets, vintage coats, or parkas, follow these cleaning tips so they stay nice and fresh when the chill returns. Your winter coat endures a lot as it keeps you toasty in the winter, enduring snow, precipitation, dirt, and natural body oils. To maintain its condition,
STOP THE SHOE STACK If your front entryway typically looks like a sneaker factory hit by a tornado, the first step is to get all that
brush your coat once or twice weekly to remove particles and dirt. You should also always hang this garment, so it holds its proper shape and stays clean. Before storing your coat away, spot-treat any stains using a damp cloth with mild detergent to dab the area. Always check the care instructions on the tag before washing your coats, as common materials like wool, down, and leather require different methods. Wool can shrink, down feathers can get damaged by high heat, and leather can crack. So, it’s essential to choose the proper technique. Most coats do best air drying or tumbled in the machine at the lowest heat setting. At Janet Davis Cleaners, we’ve had our fair share of cold winters and know what your favorite coats need to stay in top shape. Don’t risk ruining your coat by cleaning it yourself. When you bring it to us, we start by evaluating the material, pretreating stains with high-quality detergents, and using our specialized techniques to make sure your high-quality coat gets a thorough clean without any damage. Our customers trust us with their treasured coats, including delicate, irreplaceable vintage pieces. Helen turned to us to give her beloved red wool coat from yesteryear a makeover, and she was stunned when she picked it up. “I brought in a vintage red wool coat with a fur collar to be cleaned,” she said. “It looks so bright and cleaned up beautifully. I really didn’t expect such good results. If you have vintage coats or wool coats with fur collars, I highly recommend Janet Davis Cleaners.” Ready to give your winter coats the care they deserve? Contact Janet Davis Cleaners today to rest easy knowing your winter essentials will be fresh and prepared for the next snowy season.
footwear — especially if it’s wet or muddy — out of your way and into easily accessible locations. You can utilize baskets or shelves to organize those items by person and even assign each area a name or number to help family members (or guests) find them without hassle. The same goes for gloves, hats, scarves, socks, boots, umbrellas, and other weather- specific attire. If your entryway space is minimal,
consider adding hooks and shelves to a nearby wall to keep these essentials — plus purses, keys, and other daily accessories — in one spot. Best of all, everyone will know where to place certain items instead of dropping one glove in the living room and another in the kitchen. Imagine that! PERFECT THE PET PARENT PLAYBOOK Of course, you also need to keep things neat for your beloved animal companions. Leashes, pet clothing, and waste scoopers should also have designated spaces in your reorganized entryway. Storing your pet essentials in a dedicated place will be especially helpful when your furry friends wake you up in the middle of the night so you can take them outside to do their business. From making a great first impression to keeping tasks convenient for your family, a decluttered front entryway is one of the best and most practical gifts you can give your home.
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When life gets busy, the last thing you want to think about is your dirty clothes hamper. That’s where Janet Davis Cleaners comes in! Using a professional laundry service is one of the ultimate life hacks for busy people. When you drop off your clothes with us, you’ll save time, get expert care, and extend the life of your favorite garments. We also have access to professional- grade cleaners and knowledge of specialized techniques designed to give your clothes the best clean possible. From tricky stains to our full-service laundry, which RECLAIM YOUR WEEKENDS Let Janet Davis Cleaners Simplify Your Laundry Day
goes far beyond just dry cleaning, we are ready to simplify your chores so you can focus on doing what you enjoy most. SAVE TIME Laundry can take hours out of your day, time you might not have each week in our busy world. Reclaim your “me time” with our wash, fold, and dry service. We’ll check pockets, clean your clothes the right way, do tedious folding, and even deliver your freshly laundered clothes right to your front door.
professional machines and keep the temperatures down during the drying cycle to protect your garments. With our commercial dryers, your clothes have more room to move, preventing wrinkles and shrinking and preserving colors longer. CLEANER, LONG-LASTING RESULTS Professional laundry services like ours use the latest technologies and can deep clean your clothes better than standard washers and dryers at home. Your clothes will become brighter, softer, and more long-lasting. Over time, using Janet Davis Cleaners will save you money when buying new garments. Let us take care of the clothes hamper so you can focus on what really matters!
The hanger shortage is still an issue, and we will continue collecting your hangers! Instead of sending them to the landfill, let us put them to use. We offer a cardboard hanger recycling tote you can request to fill with the hangers you no longer need. It can also help you organize your closet. Thank you for all your help. THE HANGER SHORTAGE CONTINUES
Thanks to the convenience of our pick-up and delivery
services, you won’t have to leave the comfort of your home to get this big weekly chore done. EXPERT CARE A professional service uses the highest-quality products and equipment to ensure your clothes get the proper cleaning. We use gentle detergents and
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
SUDOKU
We’re in the middle of Lent, so there’s no better time to host your own fish fry for your loved ones! Classic Fish Fry
INGREDIENTS • Vegetable oil • 2 lbs fresh cod • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour • 2 large eggs
• 2 tbsp water • 2 cups plain bread crumbs • 1/2 tsp mustard powder • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper • Lemon wedges
DIRECTIONS 1. Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat. 2. Cut cod into 4 servings and season with salt and pepper. 3. Place flour into a pie tin. Whisk egg and water in a second pie tin. Combine bread crumbs, mustard powder, and cayenne in a third pie tin. 4. Coat your fish in the flour tin, then the egg tin, then the bread crumb tin. 5. Set coated fish in hot oil and fry for 5 minutes on each side. 6. Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!
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(248) 543-0340 www.janetdaviscleaners.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE
27607 Woodward Ave. Berkley, MI 48072
1 The Detroit Zoo and Beyond 2 Claim the Compact Storage Crown
Expert Care for Your Jackets and Coats
3 Why Professional Laundry Services Are Worth It
Classic Fish Fry
4 Wedding Rituals With Unexpected Origins
WHAT WEDDING TRADITIONS ARE HIDING 3 Customs With Surprising Backstories
MATCHING BRIDESMAIDS The tradition of having bridesmaids dressed alike also dates back to ancient times and has supernatural origins. Back then, bridesmaids wore identical clothing to confuse evil
Weddings are filled with traditions we follow without question, but have you ever wondered where they come from? Many customs we associate with saying “I do” have fascinating and unexpected origins, and these three common wedding traditions have some of the most surprising backstories.
spirits or jealous suitors who might harm the bride or disrupt the wedding. The practice was a “protective” measure to ensure the bride’s safety on her wedding day.
WEARING A VEIL The bridal veil has a long history rooted in both symbolism and practicality. In ancient Greece and Rome, they believed veils warded off evil spirits and protected brides from bad luck. In other cultures, veils served as a symbol of modesty or purity, particularly in religious ceremonies. Over time, the veil also became a way to heighten the
SAVING PART OF THE WEDDING CAKE Many traditions exist around the
wedding cake, originating in the mid- 17th century. One enduring tradition is saving part of the cake to eat later. This was originally a practical, money-saving measure — the saved portion of cake
anticipation and drama of the bride’s grand reveal. Many brides wear them today because veils carry special meaning in their families (or they like the look).
would serve as the christening cake for the couple’s firstborn. Today, many couples eat the preserved top-tier of their wedding cake on their first wedding anniversary as a symbol of good luck!
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