SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Utica Community Schools eighth grader Ben Wodniak had a vision to create a war memorial, which has now become a reality.

STERLING HEIGHTS — This photo was taken in July 1995 of Sterling Heights police officers approaching the scene of a Detroit News strike that reportedly blocked the Sterling Heights Operations Facility at the intersection of Mound Road and Metropolitan Parkway.

STERLING HEIGHTS — Sterling Heights officials recently celebrated a new high score for the city on a rubric that measures LGBTQ rights and advocacy.

STERLING HEIGHTS — When Julia Frueh got married in November, she knew she wanted the occasion to be somewhere special. And for her, that place was the church at Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac.

STERLING HEIGHTS — Upon leaving military life about a decade ago, retired U.S. Army Sgt. Darrell Kingsberry Jr.’s life, in his words, had “been up and down,” sometimes fortunate and other times not-so-fortunate.

CENTER LINE/WARREN — Whenever a Peck Elementary School student needs a Band-Aid, an ice pack or hydrocortisone cream, they know to go to secretary Rosie Parker.

WARREN — Even though her three children have graduated from Warren Woods Tower High School, Jennifer Nitz still wanted to be involved with Warren Woods Public Schools.

WARREN — On Dec. 3, about a dozen bakers showed off their best cookie recipes to a team of local media judges and a room filled with cookie lovers that bought and tasted their confections.

CENTER LINE — Santa Claus came to town for Center Line’s 70th tree lighting on Dec. 9, where nearly 900 people from the community gathered in Memorial Park for festive events on a balmy night.

DETROIT — During its December meeting, the Regional Transit Authority’s board of directors began discussions regarding a plan to transfer the QLINE and its assets under the management umbrella of the RTA.

FERNDALE — Three men were arrested this month for allegedly impersonating police officers during an August home invasion.

ROYAL OAK — Throughout the month of December, Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s Hospital has been putting on its annual Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams event.

PLEASANT RIDGE — At its Nov. 14 meeting, the Pleasant Ridge City Commission received a presentation about a community survey with resident feedback on a host of city issues.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The Senior Activity Center’s knitting and crocheting group makes projects for those in need, and also provides much needed social time for its members.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Christmas traditions vary from culture to culture, celebrating the festive season in their own ways. 

WARREN — If you’ve traveled on Mound Road in Warren, you’ve likely experienced slowdowns, lane closures, and felt captive by construction. Recent weeks have seen noticeable progress, and many have asked, “When will this end?”

METRO DETROIT — Taylor Jones wasn’t sure how she would get through that first Christmas without her favorite aunt, Tricey, who had passed away from COVID-19 and lupus a few years ago.

MOUNT CLEMENS — For its penultimate meeting of 2023, the full Mount Clemens City Commission showed up on Dec. 4 for a regular meeting headlined by water project funding and a work session about the apartment complex set to replace the old motel at 1 North River Road.

METRO DETROIT — While toys and other physical gifts can be quickly forgotten, the sense of pride from learning a new skill is the gift that keeps on giving. So rather than adding to a loved one’s overwhelming stack of belongings, why not consider giving an experience?

MOUNT CLEMENS — Karlin Traylor is a woman of many hats. Around Macomb County, she’s known as one of the owners of the Slaw Dogsz food trucks and as a daycare operator. But this winter marks a big step forward in one of her other passions.