UTICA — Three Utica Community Schools translators, who help support communications in Albanian, Arabic and Spanish, recently received their Language Line certifications.

UTICA — The Utica Fire Department will once again be holding its Toys for Tots Stuff an Ambulance event at Utica Memorial Park during the Downtown Utica Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration on Dec. 13.

UTICA — Following a police response to his apartment on Nov. 25, 70-year-old Joseph Vanker, of Utica, was arraigned on a charge of assault with intent to murder.

STERLING HEIGHTS/UTICA/SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A $43,000 grant from the Margaret Dunning Foundation has been given to Henry Ford II High School’s automotive repair program, which will help update equipment.

TROY — Shawn Rankin, a senior at Troy High School, has brought in donations and built doghouses for the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center — part of his efforts to achieve the status of Eagle Scout, the highest rank for Scouting America groups. 

TROY — An all-girls team at Larson Middle School has been coding and building robots while also running outreach events that promote interest in STEM learning — science, technology, engineering and math.

TROY — A full-size cricket field is nearing completion at Boulan Park, located at 3671 Crooks Road in Troy.

UTICA — Visible from M-53 near Hall Road, a new Utica sign can be viewed in front of the Bowdega and Burn1 property at 45411 Park Ave.

TROY — The Calvary Chapel of Oakland County in Troy is one of 5,000 drop-off locations across the country that will be open to collect shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child during National Collection Week Nov. 17-24.

TROY — The Troy City Council has unanimously approved a three-year contract for updated catalog software and messaging services at the Troy Public Library. 

TROY — Lucas Rossi, a student at Troy High and scout with Crew 314/Troop 1707, recently completed his Eagle Scout project — a set of miniature fire trucks that the Troy Fire Department can use at open houses and other events.

TROY — Authorities have arrested a man they believe robbed a Troy gas station at gunpoint using a rifle. The incident occurred during the early morning hours Oct. 30. 

TROY — Officials past and present are paying respects to Jeanne Stine, an inspirational trailblazer in the city of Troy who died Oct. 28 at the age of 96.

UTICA — Seven Utica Community Schools students will be performing in “An Irish Nutcracker” at 5 p.m. Dec. 20 at the McMorran Place Theater, 701 McMorran Blvd. in Port Huron.

UTICA — In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, the Utica City Council during the Oct. 14 meeting unanimously approved the hiring of Landscape Services Inc. to install the Christmas lights throughout the downtown and the Van Dyke corridor.