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Ben Graham
Symphony to perform holiday concert
The Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Joe Striplin, will perform “Holiday Concert for Children of All Ages” at 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. Nester Scholarship winner and Grose Pointe North High School student Ben Graham is among the musicians who will perform. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the symphony’s website — gpsymphony.org — or at the door for $20 regular admission, $15 for seniors and $5 for college students. Admission is free for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Gifts sought
The nonprofit Motor City Mitten Mission is teaming up with The Helm to offer a giving tree at The Helm, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. Anyone interested in purchasing a gift is invited to visit The Helm weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and take an ornamental tag with desired gift items on it from the tree. Items such as socks, underwear, scarves, gloves, hats, mittens, deodorant and razors are among the goods being sought for local people in need. Donors are asked to return unwrapped items to The Helm by Dec. 15.
“Forming partnerships with individuals and other organizations is so important for us to operate,” The Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said in a press release. “It’s all about community and being a good citizen of that community.”
For more information, visit helmlife.org or call (313) 882-9600.
Christmas story performance planned
Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will present a musical account of Jesus’ birth at 5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the church, with carols performed by the choir and the debut of a new choral work by James Biery, “From Heaven Above.” For more information, visit gpmchurch.org or call (313) 882-5330.
Chorale to perform
The nonprofit Motor City Chorale will perform Christmas songs at 3 p.m. Dec. 17 at First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. The concert is free. For more information, visit motorcitychorale.com.
Blood drive scheduled
Corewell Health is teaming up with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan to hold a series of blood drives in metro Detroit in December, including one from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Corewell Health’s Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe, in Grosse Pointe City. Organizers said the process takes about an hour per donor, and anyone age 17 and older in good health and not experiencing symptoms of cold or flu is welcome to participate. Donors must have photo identification. Sixteen-year-olds can also donate blood but must have permission from a parent or guardian.
“Fewer people donate blood in winter months due to the busy holiday season, poor weather conditions and seasonal illness,” Nick Rambow, interim vice president of Corewell Health Laboratory, said in a press release. “Blood donations are important for our patients all year long. We hope that the community will help by scheduling an appointment today.”
To schedule an appointment, visit versiti.org/blood-donation-locations.
See work by young artists
Student artwork is on display as part of the American Association of University Women Grosse Pointe’s annual “Listen to Women” art contest, which is on view through Jan. 15 at The War Memorial, 32 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The artwork is in the Grosse Pointe Artists Association’s guest gallery and can be visited between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Contest entries came from as far away as Pontiac. The show was judged by Elizabeth Gauthier. Emily Gayed received first place for her work, “Multicolored” — pictured — while Christina Johnson took second place for “Unknown Afterthoughts” and Rose Garling received third place for “Voices Through Print.” Honorable mentions went to Niamya Deems, Ava Edalski, Ella Gilbert and Harmonie Loza.
Gayed, a Fraser High School student, said she was “thankful and grateful” for the exhibition and the award.
“Through my inspired work, I got to express myself and the struggles of minority women and finding their identity,” Gayed said in a press release.
Church shares message of welcoming
Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church on Maumee Avenue in Grosse Pointe City recently placed signs on its property to show love and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Church officials said the signs are in response to legislative efforts around the country targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals, such as bans on gender-affirming health care and drag shows.
“The increased amount of hate in our society is not only dangerous, it is inhumane. We know there is another way of living,” the Rev. Mitra Rahnema said in a press release. “We choose to love first and love well. We choose to provide a sanctuary for people who are currently targeted in the larger world. … We also want to offer clarity to the world that transgender people are beautiful, worthy, welcomed and embraced.”
