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When you're ready to drive home in a new SUV, Ford has plenty of crossover and full-size models from which to choose. If you're having a hard time deciding which model is right for you, read on to learn more about some of the great features you can find on a few of Ford's top 2019 SUVs. Edge When you're looking to drive around in style, get behind the wheel of the Ford Edge. This sleek and sophisticated SUV comes with plenty of impressive features. On the outside, you'll enjoy standard features that include rain-sensing windshield wipers, wiper-activated headlights, automatic high beams, LED daytime running lights and taillights, and a rear spoiler. Inside, you'll appreciate standard conveniences that include an auto-dimming rearview mirror, blind spot information system, lane keep assist system, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. more Flex The Ford Flex offers plenty of interior comfort to go along with its head-turning good looks. Inside you'll find space for everyone with seating for up to seven people. Plus, with a second-row 60/40 split folding bench seat and 50/50 split folding bench seat in the third row, the Flex lives up to its name when you need to combine passenger seating and space for cargo. In fact, you don't have to worry if you have a large piece of cargo. Simply fold all the seats down to reveal an impressive 83.2 cubic feet of storage space. Escape The fun and sporty Ford Escape is always ready for your next adventure. With three engine options available, you know you can find the right one to suit your needs. The standard 2.5-liter engine delivers 168 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. If you decide to go with the available 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine, you'll enjoy 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Or you can select the available 2.0-liter Twin Scroll EcoBoost engine that delivers 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. When properly equipped, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine also has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. Explorer Whether your adventures are on the road or off of it, the Ford Explorer has the features and conveniences to make your drive a comfortable one. The stylish exterior comes standard with automatic headlights, LED low beam headlights and taillights, and a rear spoiler. Inside, you can stay connected like never before thanks to the available SYNC 3 infotainment system. This easy-to-use system includes a touch-screen display and a sleek interface that connects to your smartphone so you can access some of your favorite apps. Expedition If you want an SUV that can accommodate everything from a large family to plenty of cargo, you need the Ford Expedition. With seating for up to eight people, this full-size SUV makes it easy to bring everyone along for the ride. You'll also find all the technology you desire, including the SYNC infotainment system and available Wi-Fi hotspot. Whether you're interested in sporty fun or impressive roominess, you'll find everything you're looking for when you select one of these top 2019 SUVs from Ford as your next vehicle. Photo by F. D. Richards | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0

One popular New Year's resolution that people around the country make is to get healthier. If this is one of your resolutions this year, you have plenty of events around Redford, Michigan, to help you meet your goal. Whether you want to learn how to make nutritious meals or change the way you approach a healthy lifestyle, the following events can help you with your New Year's resolution. Pints and Poses Head to the North Center Brewing Company in Northville on February 23 for Pints and Poses. During this unique event, you'll focus on smooth and fluid yoga movements that will rejuvenate your mind and body and lift your energy. When the yoga class is over, you then get to reward yourself with a complimentary beer. Be sure to use the same focus you learned from your yoga moves to experience the flavors and aromas of your specially crafted beer in a new way. No yoga experience is necessary, and brunch is also available. more Intentional and Sustainable Change Seminar Trying to make a change in your life is never easy. If you've tried to make healthy New Year's resolutions before and failed, plan to attend the Intentional and Sustainable Change Seminar on February 10 at the SheHive coaching center in Ferndale. During this seminar, which is facilitated by SheHive founder Ursula Adams, you'll have an opportunity to learn how you can create a framework that utilizes your strengths and support systems to make a plan that will help you meet your goals. Fitness, Walking, Hiking, and Fun If part of your healthy New Year's resolution is to get more active, you might find that meeting up with like-minded people can help you stay motivated. The Fitness, Walking, Hiking, and Fun group meets a few times every month to walk and hike outdoors. Each walk is about 4 miles, and the group generally tries to walk at a pace of about 17 minutes a mile. If you're interested in joining, the group often meets at either Stony Creek Nature Center or Paint Creek Trail. Active in Detroit Another great meetup group to consider if you're interested in getting up and moving is Active in Detroit. This group is open to anyone in the communities surrounding Detroit who's interested in meeting up with other people to enjoy different outdoor activities. No matter your skill level, you're sure to find an activity you can enjoy. Popular activities the group participates in include cycling, hiking, kayaking, skating, and downhill skiing. Macro Val's Healthy Cooking Classes In addition to staying active, you also need to eat right to help meet your New Year's resolution. Fortunately, with Macro Val's Healthy Cooking Classes, you'll discover just how easy it is to make some delicious and healthy recipes. During these hands-on classes, you'll have a chance to learn how to cook some sugar-free, meat-free, and dairy-free recipes that taste great. No matter how you need to keep up with your healthy New Year's resolution, you'll find plenty of interesting and exciting events around Redford that will help you do it. Some rights reserved by GoToVan

If you feel the winter blues creeping up on you this season, spoil yourself with a nice meal at a good restaurant. There is nothing like tasty food, a refreshing cocktail, and friendly service to cheer you up. Here are a few restaurants in and around Redford, Michigan, that consistently deliver great service and food. Mama Mia's If you are into Italian cuisine then Mama Mia's is the restaurant for you, as they serve the best pizza and pasta in the neighborhood. Mama Mia's is a family-owned restaurant that has been around for the last 50 years, consistently delivering good food and service. The interior of the restaurant has a casual and homely atmosphere, and you can sit at a table, booth, or at the bar. more For starters, you can go for pan-fried calamari, fried zucchini, or a Minestrone soup. On the Entrée menu are Italian pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and cannelloni, or you can opt for specialty dishes like veal scallopini Marsala, consisting of tender, sautéed medallions with Marsala wine. But don't forget the pizza, still made the same way as when Mama Mia's opened back in the day. Bite into a Mama Mia Special with cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and green peppers, or a Vegetarian Special with cheese, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli. Mama Mia's is located at 19385 Beech Daly Road, Redford Charter Township. Benihana Benihana, located in Dearborn, is well worth the seven-mile drive from Redford. At this Japanese restaurant, a teppanyaki chef will entertain you by preparing your dish in front of you while you sip on a specialty cocktail. Or go the Japanese way and choose some saki from the extensive sake menu, which features interesting choices such as Mio Sparkling Sake and Tyku Cucumber Sake. The locale is pleasant and laid-back, exuding a warm and welcoming atmosphere. At Benihana you can expect top-quality USDA Choice beef, fresh sushi, crisp, hand-cut vegetables, and house-made sauces. The menu features quite a large variety of dishes. For starters enjoy soft-shell crab with Momiji, scallion, and ponzu sauce, or pan-fried Gyoza dumplings with spicy sesame soy sauce. Entrées include delectable dishes such as Seafood Diablo with sea scallops, calamari, shrimp, vegetables, and noodles, or Hibachi Chateaubriand served with mushrooms and garlic. There is, of course, also a large selection of fresh sushi available. You will find Benihana at 18601 Hubbard Drive, Dearborn. Mitchell's Fish Market A seafood lover should take the short drive from Redford to Livonia to dine at Mitchell's Fish Market. This restaurant boasts an attractive, roomy interior, with a large bar where you can sit down and enjoy a house cocktail before your meal. If you visit Mitchell's on a sunny day, there is an outdoor patio featuring shaded seating space. Spoil yourself with some fresh oysters or crispy calamari for starters, and for your entree, bite into a Shanghai sea bass with rice-wine soy sauce, sticky rice, and spinach, or a ginger-crusted salmon with citrus butter, sticky rice, and stir-fry vegetables. Mitchell's is located at 17600 Haggerty Road, Livonia. Beat the winter blues this season by enjoying a hearty meal at one of these restaurants. You are bound to head home with a smile in your heart.

Ford's 2019 F-150 Diesel half-ton pickup was nominated as a Motor Trend 2019 Truck of the Year finalist. Although the prize didn't go to Ford this time, it's still a big honor to have made the list. What makes this truck stands out amongst its competitors, is not any one feature, but rather a combination of traits. The 2019 F-150 marries best-in-class fuel economy with superior power, state-of-the-art economy, and a comfortable and roomy interior. Let's take a closer look at why this truck was worthy of being a 2019 Motor Trend finalist. Powerful Diesel Engine The diesel engine featured in the 2019 F-150 is a 3.0-liter Power Stroke Turbo Diesel, mated to a 10-speed automatic, that kicks out 250 horsepower and 444 pound-feet of torque. This powerful engine is optional on the Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, and delivers a best-in-class diesel tow rating of up to 11,400 pounds, as well as a best-in-class payload rating of up to 2,010 pounds. more Excellent Fuel Economy We all know that trucks have never been known for their fuel efficiency. It is generally understood that the more power a vehicle offers, the less fuel-efficient it will be. And that is precisely why the 2019 F-150 is so special: it combines superior power with excellent fuel economy. Motortrend has stated that this truck outperformed all its competitors by presenting actual fuel-economy ratings of 20.9/28.5/23.7 mpg city/highway/combined. Officially, the fuel economy of the F-150 Diesel is rated at 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. This best-in-class fuel economy rating is actually achievable if the diesel engine is combined with the available rear-wheel drive. Superior Performance The 10-speed automatic that is paired to this engine offers superior overall performance, featuring optimized wide-span gear spacing, drag reduction, and three overdrive gears. This transmission system also offers selectable driving modes; Normal, Tow-Haul, Snow-Wet, EcoSelect, and Sport. This allows you to customize your driving experience according to the weather and road conditions. To boost fuel efficiency, the Diesel engine also features Auto Start-Stop technology, which will automatically switch of your engine when the truck comes to a stop and restart it again once the foot is lifted from the pedal. This system will also automatically deactivate in situations where it wouldn't be conducive to performance, like when you're towing or running in four-wheel drive. State-of-the-Art Technology and a Comfortable Interior The Ford F-150 is equipped with the latest technology and driver-assist features and boasts a spacious and comfortable interior. Ford's available  SYNC 3 system offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, SiriusXM, navigation, and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system, while the FordPass Connect system provides 4G LTW Wi-Fi connectivity for up to 10 concurrent devices. Convenient available interior features include heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Available driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, a blind-spot information system, pre-collision assist, and lane-keep assist. The Ford F-150 Diesel truck is truly a special vehicle, offering a combination of power, superb fuel efficiency, safety, and comfort. If you want to take one for a spin, drop in at Pat Milliken Ford.

Just a short drive from Redford, Michigan, lies Lake St. Clair, offering 430 square miles of fresh water and 160 miles of shoreline. Apart from the Lake St. Clair Metropark that boasts a host of outdoor activities, there are also other interesting places to visit and fun things to do in the area. Although the winter season is upon us, do not fear: Lake St. Clair is just as much fun when it is cold! If you are wondering what to do at Lake St. Clair this winter, here are a few ideas. Lake St. Clair Metropark Lake St. Clair Metropark features over a mile of shoreline and a 1,600-foot boardwalk from where you can enjoy amazing views of the lake. The park offers fitness and nature trails, easy boating access, picnic facilities, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool with waterslides. There is a myriad of activities that you can enjoy here, including bird-watching, fishing, boating, hiking, cycling, windsurfing, and much more. Even in the cold winter months, the park has many exciting activities on offer. more Cross-country skiing: The park features miles of groomed country ski trails, mostly flat terrain, offering the perfect cross-country skiing environment for the whole family. Ice fishing: Just because it's winter doesn't mean you have to stop fishing! Lake St. Clair is a great spot for ice fishing and is known particularly for panfish and yellow perch fishing in the wintry months. There are a few bait and tackle shops around the entrance of the Metropark where you can stock up and also hear what's biting. Ice skating, ice hockey, and sledding: An outdoor ice hockey rink, ice skating rink, and family sledding hill are all located in the West Playfield of the Metropark. Close to the parking area, you will also find a comfort station, picnic tables, and a warming room. Edsel and Eleanor Ford House If you are someone who prefers activities that are less strenuous, then perhaps a visit to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House would intrigue you. This house, located on the shore of Lake St. Clair, was home to Henry and Clara Ford's only child, Edsel, and his wife, Eleanor. The house features impressive architecture by Albert Kahn, as well as beautiful landscaping consisting of meadows, woodlands, and wetlands, all designed to look natural. The interior of the house is just as fascinating, featuring many valuable pieces of art and antiques. The house is open for public tours, and events and lectures are also hosted there. Mike's on the Water If you're looking for a bite to eat, then Mike's on the Water won't disappoint. The restaurant is located right next to the waters of Lake St. Clair and features a nautically-themed interior with a full bar, as well as a patio area for sunny days. Bite into a fresh lobster roll or enjoy a classic clam chowder while enjoying the beautiful view. Even during the cold, wintry months, there are many fun things to do in the Lake St. Clair area. Whether you enjoy winter sports activities, architecture, or a good meal away from home, the short drive to Lake St. Clair is well worth it.