GROSSE POINTE CITY — Residents, officials and others have been thanking Grosse Pointe City Municipal Court Judge Russell Ethridge a lot lately, as he wraps up his tenure helming the court. It turns out Ethridge is every bit as grateful as they are.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Joel Morris, a firefighter/paramedic who served more than 20 years at the Shelby Township Fire Department and six years in the Utica Fire Department, who currently is a paramedic at Universal Macomb Ambulance Service, recently underwent open heart surgery.

ROCHESTER — Every married couple has probably heard the age-old question of “how did you guys meet?” But how many of those responses have paled in comparison to the story of Rochester’s Bill and Virginia “Ginny” Ames?

TROY — The city of Troy will be receiving a new city manager in 2024. Current City Manager Mark Miller formally announced his plans to step down from the position in May.

NOVI — After 48 years of dedication to the city of Novi, Mayor Bob Gatt decided the time was right to close the “local politics” chapter of his life and let someone younger lead the city.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The Rev. James Bjorum made everyone feel welcome at the Our Lady of Hope Parish and he was a good listener, according to the staff at St. Germaine Catholic School.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — From her secret hiding spot inside a cabinet, a young Tracey Booker watched in horror as her stepfather smashed a frying pan against her mother’s head.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Even as a child, Jared Lee Gosselin had an ear for music. He can still remember his first records — Run-DMC’s “Raising Hell” and Public Enemy’s “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.”

BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD — The first pieces of formal art that Kegham Tazian encountered were in Italy when he was 22 years old.

STERLING HEIGHTS — It is good to be queen. And for Sterling Heights resident Mary Daniels, it is even better to be queen while being over 130 pounds lighter.

BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD — Stephanie Pizzo, a founding member of the Eisenhower Dance Company, is the recipient of the 2023 Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award.

WARREN — When Piper Bognar began working as McKinley Elementary School principal in 2010, Van Dyke Public Schools Board of Education member Eleanor Bates was there to welcome her.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Donna Flaherty helps out her community not for the recognition, but for the love of St. Clair Shores and the residents living there.

UTICA/STERLING HEIGHTS — Marcus Arambulo, of Boy Scout Troop No. 90, decided for his Eagle Scout project that he would help veterans by building a pergola at the American Legion Victor I. Rieck Post 351 in Utica.

ROSEVILLE  — Ta’Leah Butler is making the most of her high school years.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A local woman is thanking the stranger who rushed to her husband’s aid after the 81-year-old man got in a car accident that left him hospitalized with a brain injury from which he’s still recovering.

TROY — On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the Troy Chamber of Commerce will host its Top of Troy: Women of Influence roundtable.

ROSEVILLE/YPSILANTI — “Fast” Eddie Mizinski has always been a good sport.

SOUTHFIELD — The pavilion at Catalpa Oaks County Park was dedicated to Vincent Gregory’s memory and legacy in a dedication ceremony on Sept. 18.

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — In the vivid world of Julian Gagnon’s imagination, if the Detroit River could sing, “She would sing me awake in the painted blue morning.”