STERLING HEIGHTS/SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — At the Dec. 19 Utica Community Schools Board of Education meeting, the UCS Board of Education honored Plumbrook Elementary School student Mila Sikes, who, as the Beaumont Children’s ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network, has helped raise more than $500,000 for the organization.

FARMINGTON HILLS — Those who are interested in knowing what it is like to be a missionary don’t have to travel too far to find out, as SEND International — an inter-denominational, multinational Christian mission organization — has a location in Farmington Hills.

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Motown has lost its “Angel of Jazz.” Surrounded by family, businesswoman and philanthropist Gretchen Carhartt Valade, 97, died at her Grosse Pointe Farms home Dec. 30.

WARREN — Pastor Tsegayesus Hurisa Hunde has traversed the globe spreading the good news of Christ.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — If living a life of service to others is the truest indication of wealth, then many people in the West Bloomfield area might say that the community recently lost one of its wealthiest members.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Boutique salon Bell Amore’s owners have faced huge challenges in the past few years, but they continue to have a focus on the community.

GROSSE POINTE PARK — Although Grosse Pointe Park recently parted ways with its longtime former law firm, it wasn’t done out of ill will.

FARMINGTON HILLS — After having seizures for more than a decade, Farmington Hills resident Peter Varga said he feels like a normal person again.

STERLING HEIGHTS — The world was a completely different place a century ago, when Clarence Arens was born. The year 1922 is when the USSR was founded, Babe Ruth signed with the Yankees and the first edition of Reader’s Digest was published.

NOVI — A young girl has started the roots of what she hopes will become a nonprofit for climate change one day.

OAKLAND COUNTY — Jamie L. Wittenberg, a judge in the 44th District Court, died Nov. 20 at the age of 48 after a three-year battle with brain cancer.

UTICA — A Utica resident was recently recognized with a certificate from the American Heart Association for performing lifesaving CPR on a bicyclist back in March.

WARREN — The court administrator at the 37th District Court in Warren and Center Line was recently recognized for her work simplifying the public’s access to the court.

WARREN — For anyone who attended Van Dyke Public Schools, you probably ran into Eleanor Bates at one time or another.

TROY — Traveling to Australia, fixing up a beloved car and driving across the Outback to one of the wildest parties Down Under? It was quite an adventure for Troy resident David Tracy.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Pete Backus’ late wife, Gail, always told him one thing before he went on his way to golf each morning.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department recently recognized five residents for making the township a better and safer place to live.

NOVI — Novi City Manager Pete Auger announced his retirement last month after nearly 40 years of public service, including eight in Novi. His last day leading the city’s day-to-day operations will be Nov. 30.

ROYAL OAK — On May 9, 2021, Ellen Rabideau gave birth to her baby girl, Tatum, on a very special Mother’s Day.

STERLING HEIGHTS/SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA — In 2021, Braylon Graham, from Collins Elementary School in Sterling Heights, qualified for the Junior Olympics in the long jump event in the 8-and-under age division.