People

Published August 7, 2020

Couple brings plush toys to life through children’s books

STERLING HEIGHTS — After years of dreaming and months of work, a Sterling Heights couple is having their big day as children’s book authors.

Fire Chief Johnny Menifee speaks to the media at the scene of an apartment fire in 2018.

Published July 28, 2020

Southfield Sun

Southfield fire chief appointed president of Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs

SOUTHFIELD — Southfield Fire Chief Johnny Menifee is the first African American and Southfield chief to be named as the president of the Southeastern Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs.

Published July 28, 2020

Macomb Township Chronicle

Author discusses Michigan’s Thumb in virtual presentation

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Which Michigan small town is the birthplace of a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame? The answer is Cass City, where Larry MacPhail was born in 1890. His son, Lee MacPhail, is also in the Hall of Fame, making them the only father-son duo in the hall.

Published July 27, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Shelby author releases first book about pandemics during a world pandemic

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township man released his first book, a teen and young-adult mystery book about a pandemic, called “Operation Arrow Fletcher” in May during a real-world pandemic.

Published July 27, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Shelby woman celebrates 90th birthday with drive-by celebration

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Elsie Dickty, a 90-year-old, 30-year resident of Shelby Township, spent several months inside her home quarantined since the novel coronavirus hit in March.

Published July 21, 2020

Rochester Post

New garden brings pollinators to Paint Creek Trail

ROCHESTER HILLS — Bicyclists, runners and anyone else utilizing the Paint Creek Trail can explore a new pollinator garden approximately 1/4 mile north of Tienken Road in Rochester Hills.

Published July 21, 2020

Woodward Talk

Huntington Woods woman wins nursing award

HUNTINGTON WOODS — A Huntington Woods resident and nurse at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, was named as a winner of Oakland University’s Nightingale Awards.

Published July 21, 2020

Woodward Talk

Berkley child makes bracelets to support Black Lives Matter

BERKLEY — A young Berkley child looking to make a difference has been raising funds to help support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Published July 21, 2020

Grosse Pointe Times

Shores public safety cracking down on rowdy boaters

GROSSE POINTE SHORES — Boaters who moor their watercraft near lakefront homeowners and blast music, trespass on private property, or cause other disturbances could find themselves facing a judge in Grosse Pointe Shores Municipal Court.

Helen Demark, who has lived in Royal Oak for 65 years, waves to those celebrating her 104th birthday July 7. Pictured sitting is her niece, Susan Beyer, who traveled from Buffalo, New York, for the occasion.

Published July 21, 2020

Royal Oak Review

Royal Oakers unite to ring in neighbor’s 104th birthday

ROYAL OAK — With little family left in the area, neighbors who are part of the Vinsetta East Homeowners Association got together to put on a surprise, socially-distanced parade in front of Helen Demark’s home to celebrate her 104th birthday July 7.

Published July 20, 2020

Shelby - Utica News

Utica resident shares experience collecting model trains over the years

UTICA — Utica resident Jeff Carter has been collecting model trains for over 40 years, and many of those years, he collected with his dad.

Former Chippewa Valley Schools Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Ed Skiba, left, died July 10 at the age of 67. Skiba began his 44-year education career as a music teacher with Chippewa Valley Schools. He retired in June 2019.

Published July 20, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Former Chippewa Valley administrator dies

MACOMB TOWNSHIP/CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Former longtime education leader Ed Skiba, of Macomb Township, died July 10 at the age of 67.

Published July 17, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Academy renamed in former school board member’s honor

STERLING HEIGHTS/UTICA/SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Utica Academy for International Studies is getting a name change in honor of a longtime Utica Community Schools advocate and Board of Education member.

Kaori Marikawa, 18, gets in her practice time on the violin on Pebble Lake in Troy.

Published July 7, 2020

Troy Times

Violinist makes music on the water at Pebble Lake in Troy

TROY — Kaori Marikawa, 18, of Troy, attends high school in Bloomington, Indiana. An accomplished violinist, she arrived home this spring unexpectedly due to the coronavirus shutdown.

Jeff Gifford, selected as Troy’s Firefighter of the Year, enjoys training rookie firefighters to drive fire trucks.

Published July 7, 2020

Troy Times

Troy Firefighter of the Year mentors next generation of firefighters

TROY — Jeff Gifford, Troy’s Firefighter of the Year, was interested in firefighting from a young age.

Published July 7, 2020

Macomb Township Chronicle

Macomb Township veteran reflects on Korean War for 70th anniversary

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — By speaking about the Korean War, Milt Miller is doing his part to ensure it’s not forgotten. Known as the “Forgotten War,” positioned in American history between World War II and the Vietnam War, the Korean War began 70 years ago, on June 25, 1950.

Published July 7, 2020

Macomb Township Chronicle

Wish, new camper granted to local boy

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The need to get out of the house and explore may be more prevalent than ever this summer. For 7-year-old Christopher Lutzenkirchen, of Macomb Township, that means hitting the open road in a new camper.

Published July 6, 2020

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

New CEO takes over CARE of Southeastern Michigan

FRASER — CARE of Southeastern Michigan has a new president and CEO — Susan Styf.

From left, Gertrude Defever, Michigan Rosie the Riveter President Bette Kenward and Lucille Grewe pose for a photo June 2 outside Oakmont Parkway in Clinton Township. A crowd assembled for Grewe’s 108th birthday celebration.

Published June 23, 2020

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Original Rosie the Riveter celebrated on 108th birthday

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Lucille Grewe was the center of attention June 2, surrounded by friends and family celebrating her 108th birthday.

Published June 23, 2020

C&G Newspapers

Community reaches out to family who lost home in fire

MACOMB TOWNSHIP/GROSSE POINTE WOODS — After a fire consumed their home earlier this month, a local family is thankful for the generosity of family and friends who are helping them recover from their loss.