Sterling Heights Sentry

A Suburban Collection Farmington Hills Nissan employee makes a donation to the Drive Away Hunger campaign.

Published November 20, 2020

Drive Away Hunger campaign hopes to donate 1 million meals

METRO DETROIT — Food is a basic need, but for some families, it’s become their biggest challenge.

State rolls out COVID-19 exposure notification app

Published November 19, 2020

Michigan rolls out COVID-19 exposure notification app

LANSING — MI COVID Alert is a new statewide COVID-19 exposure notification app that lets users know whether they might recently have been exposed to COVID-19. It uses randomly generated phone codes and low energy Bluetooth technology instead of GPS location to protect privacy.

Published November 19, 2020

Educators react to new COVID-19 state mandates

WARREN/CENTER LINE/STERLING HEIGHTS — In-person learning, both hybrid and daily, for local school districts has ceased temporarily since the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a new emergency COVID-19 order effective Nov. 18.

Published November 18, 2020

‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ at home with your favorite holiday music

METRO DETROIT — This holiday season will be different for many because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a “Blue Christmas.”

Published November 18, 2020

Veterans group celebrates Veterans Day remotely

METRO DETROIT — Recognizing Veterans Day Nov. 11 was a challenge for most people given the COVID-19 quarantine, but the Metro Detroit Veterans Coalition forged ahead with a virtual alternative to its annual parade.

Published November 18, 2020

City officials praise Ryska for clerk work

STERLING HEIGHTS — Sterling Heights City Clerk Melanie Ryska might not have been on the ballot Nov. 3, but the City Council declared her a winner the day after Election Day for all of her hard work managing things.

Published November 18, 2020

Businesses brace for an odder, more online 2020 shopping season

STERLING HEIGHTS — ’Tis the season for social distancing, yet many businesses are reportedly bracing themselves for a busy holiday shopping season, even when more of that will be conducted online.

Published November 18, 2020

‘A Sterling Christmas,’ other city activities canceled

STERLING HEIGHTS — Sterling Heights’ official holiday traditions will be mostly on hold this year, as local and state officials grapple with increases in COVID-19 cases.

Published November 18, 2020

It’s beginning to look — kinda — like Christmas

METRO DETROIT — COVID-19 has taken a lot of celebrations away from us this season. Will it take out the season of giving, too? Not if retailers have a say in the matter.

Published November 18, 2020

Macomb County Health Dept. supportive of state’s three-week restrictions

MACOMB COUNTY — On Nov. 15, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a new emergency order enacting a three-week “pause” of indoor gatherings and other social activities to try to curb increasing positive COVID-19 cases statewide.

Published November 17, 2020

Macomb County led nation in census response rate

MACOMB COUNTY — When it comes to the 2020 U.S. Census, Macomb County is setting records.

Published November 17, 2020

Watch out for water lettuce on the waterways

MACOMB COUNTY — It’s a plant that might look pretty in a contained pond or water feature in a yard, but not spreading freely over the surface of the Clinton River.

Signs like this one, seen at the splash pad at Kensington Metropark, helped visitors know how far they should social distance while using Huron-Clinton Metroparks in 2020.

Published November 17, 2020

Huron-Clinton Metroparks see 2020 attendance surge

METRO DETROIT — With outdoors seemingly safer places to have distanced gatherings than inside, Huron-Clinton Metroparks saw attendance increase this year as metro Detroit residents looked for a place to safely get out of the house.

Published November 10, 2020

Families alter Thanksgiving plans amid pandemic

METRO DETROIT — Thanksgiving has always been a big deal for Elyse Van Houzen, of Franklin, who has been hosting large turkey day celebrations for friends and family for over 25 years.

Published November 10, 2020

Women talk about how passion drives their business

METRO DETROIT — In a society constantly working to bring equality to women in the workplace, consider for a moment an alternative point of view: Women might not always be equal to men because, sometimes, they can do the job better.

Published November 10, 2020

Preserve and display military memorabilia in the home

METRO DETROIT — For veterans and their families, memorabilia represent an individual’s service and can bring back memories of one’s time in the military.

Published November 10, 2020

Coronavirus concerns cited in adjournment of ex-Macomb prosecutor’s plea hearing

MACOMB COUNTY — A plea hearing for ex-Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith has been pushed back due to COVID-19 concerns.

Published November 9, 2020

Improvements being made to UCS schools using bond money

SHELBY TOWNSHIP/UTICA/STERLING HEIGHTS — Utica Community Schools will look a little different to students this year when they return to their classrooms sometime after Thanksgiving break, thanks to nearly $40 million in bond-funded renovations.

Pictured is Dakota Bread Co. co-founder Bassie Shemtov. Employers and job seekers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in different ways.

Published November 7, 2020

Employers, job seekers feel the sting of the pandemic

METRO DETROIT — In a year that has challenged so many in profound ways, both employers and job seekers are among those who have had their lives altered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published November 6, 2020

Voters pick Thomas, Meyer for Utica Community Schools board

UTICA — The race for two seats on the Utica Community Schools Board of Education has resulted in voters reelecting the one incumbent on the ballot and choosing a new board member.