MADISON HEIGHTS — For half a century, the Association of Chinese Americans has looked out for the interests of metro Detroit’s sizable Chinese American population.

MADISON HEIGHTS — A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness. It’s one of the core concepts of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival that began Dec. 18 and ends the night of Dec. 26.

OAKLAND COUNTY — The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents to make their voices heard and share what they would like to see from their local parks and community activities.

SOUTHFIELD — Optimist Club President Cherryl Thames said there is a real need to start the conversation about mental health. The problem is here, and the time is now.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — The Grosse Pointe Historical Society now has a beautiful new building at 375 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms for its offices and archives, but the project wouldn’t have been complete without furniture to go with it.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — The Grosse Pointe Historical Society has a new home, just in time for the holidays.

BIRMINGHAM — After successfully receiving the National Park Service’s recognition of the Greenwood Cemetery gravesites of Elijah S. Fish and George B. Taylor on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, local historians were motivated to continue looking for connections in Oakland County.

BEVERLY HILLS — For decades, Paul and Anne Kleppert have lived in an 1877 Victorian-style home that, until recently, sat behind what they referred to as the “loneliest sidewalk in Beverly Hills.”

METRO DETROIT — Anyone who enjoys Christmas music probably has a favorite yuletide CD or two to play when decking the halls during the holiday season.

ROYAL OAK — After a hiatus for a couple of years, the Royal Oak Jingle & Light Parade will return to the city this month.

ROYAL OAK — The Royal Oak Chabad Jewish Center will be hosting a Hanukkah celebration with the lighting of the menorah.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Macomb Ballet Company, a preprofessional nonprofit ballet company located in Shelby Township, kicked off its 40th anniversary this season with five  performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts this past weekend.

UTICA — Utica will be hosting its 2022 Downtown Utica Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at Memorial Park.

METRO DETROIT — The holidays don’t have to end after the presents are opened and friends and family head back to their normal routines.

CENTER LINE — It starts with a single bulb then transforms into an extravaganza of lights illuminating the dark winter sky with the annual Light Up the Sky Contest.

OAKLAND COUNTY — The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department is granting recreationalists the opportunity to gift loved ones with the great outdoors. The department encourages residents to consider giving an experience by purchasing one of their gift cards this holiday season.

ROSEVILLE — The family of a man who was involved in a crash on Thanksgiving is asking for the public’s help to replace his van.

EASTPOINTE — The oven mitts were off Nov. 17 to determine who makes the best chili in the city.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights City Council unanimously approved the return of the Memorial Day Parade for 2023, something that has been absent from the city since 2019.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — What could turn out to be a long-standing tradition is set to begin at Orchard Mall Dec. 10.