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December 31, 2025 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
Local pizza shop recognized for supporting Sea Cadets BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel discusses the transformation of Freedom Hill at the 2025 State of Macomb County event on Dec. 3. Part of that discussion included a look back to the venue’s first concert, which Hackel said he attended. Photo by Dean Vaglia
Hackel looks back on new charter’s impact BY DEAN VAGLIA dvaglia@candgnews.com
CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Though the usual “state of ” address focuses on events and achievements within the past year, the 2025 State of Macomb County speech celebrated 15 years of having a county executive. Delivered Dec. 3 at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, the 15th annual speech focused on how the adoption of the county charter in 2010 allowed Macomb County to transform itself over the following decade and a half. “We are marking a milestone here in Macomb County,” Hackel said. “Fifteen years ago, the residents of Macomb County voted for a new direction. They asked for fairer leadership and greater accountability, (a direction) that would provide us with the opportunity to act quickly, think long term and speak with a unified voice. This new structure, our structure, has allowed us to challenge ourselves, seize opportunities and plan for the future. And because of that, I believe Macomb County is stronger today than ever. We’re stronger because we have built this movement with everybody.”
These improvements over the past 15 years were attributed as much to the county’s partners as they were to the county itself with the tagline of “Macomb With Everybody” — a play on the “Vs Everybody” clothing line. The results of these partnerships were discussed in terms of economics, protecting its quality of life, infrastructure investment, promoting the county, and prioritizing issues of public safety, health and education. On the topic of economics, Hackel began by championing the county’s ability to end the $13.5 million budget deficit and fulfill the $260 million retiree health care funding obligations that were outstanding in 2010. “Working together with the Board of Commissioners, those deficits were immediately resolved and set the tone for sound fiscal management and transparency here in the county,” Hackel said. “Today, we can proudly say that we have delivered balanced budgets every year since, we have fully funded our retiree health care and pension systems, we continue to add to our healthy fund balance, and we maintain a strong AA+ credit rating.” Hackel’s optimism about the 2010 charter’s role in resolving See ADDRESS on page 7A
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Carlo’s Pizza in Harrison Township was recognized on Nov. 25 as a supporter of the Pride of Michigan and the Great Lakes Division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. According to Capt. Luke Clyburn, commanding officer of the Pride of Michigan, Congress created a youth program in 1962 to get kids interested in joining the armed forces. “We got a ship. We got the only ship in the United States training cadets about maritime,” Clyburn said. He said the Pride of Michigan gets children involved in Great Lakes research. “The Great Lakes Division is a component of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, a nonprofit youth organization for young Americans, male and female, ages 13 through 17,” the Sea Cadets website states. “Based in Mount Clemens, Michigan, we offer handson deck and engineering experience as crew members of the training ship Pride of Michigan.” The ship itself has been in the community for many years. It has been the head boat in the township’s Festival of Lights, an annual water parade in the summer. Clyburn said they teach the cadets, who are teenagers in high school, about seamanship to prepare them for branches of the military such as the See CARLO’S PIZZA on page 5A
C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION •DECEMBER 31, 2025
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Rev. Robert Bannon has led the congregation at Bethlehem Lutheran Church for 16 years. The church has had eight pastors since its inception in 1958. Churchgoers and leaders at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Harrison Township say their sanctuary is a welcoming place with a tight-knit congregation, but that declining attendance makes meeting financial commitments difficult. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
Officer Thomas Hogue of the Warren Police Department demonstrates one of the new electric scooters on Oct. 31. Photo by Brian Wells
WARREN POLICE UNVEIL NEW ELECTRIC TRIKES quired through the 2023 coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery fund. The vehicles are all-wheel drive and capable of reaching speeds of up to 37 mph on a battery that lasts around 12 hours. “It goes 37 mph, so it can move. It can go offroad. It’s got lights and sirens. We can put them in the back of our patrol cars, too,” Warren Police Lt. John Gajewski said. See TRIKES on page 5A
See CHURCH on page 10A
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WARREN — The Warren Police Department recently unveiled a new method of transportation — one police said that will not only assist in patrol but will help the department engage with the community. Four electric three-wheeled mobility scooters were recently outfitted for the department and ac-
BY ALYSSA OCHSS aochss@candgnews.com
HARRISON TOWNSHIP — After an over 60-year history, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Harrison Township is on the brink of closing its doors for good. The Rev. Robert Brannon said the church was opened in 1958 on Union Lake Road. He went on to say there have been eight pastors since 1958. As it stands, the church is not in any dire financial position. The Lutheran church split in 2009 when they allowed gay and lesbian pastors, Brannon said. The church as a whole has rebuilt since, but they currently have a declining and aging population with only about 15 to 20 people attending weekly services.
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church to close as attendance drops
C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
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New Woods Public Safety recruit expected to take a bite out of crime BY K. MICHELLE MORAN kmoran@candgnews.com
GROSSE POINTE WOODS — Looks can be deceiving. New Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety K-9 Arcos will be able to locate and, if needed, bite a suspect, but he’s also a bouncy, energetic, adorable puppy. The German shepherd with the silky black coat and soulful brown eyes was born in the Czech Republic and just turned 2 on Nov. 2. His handler, Woods public safety officer Duncan Gill, has been with the department for about seven years and previously worked just under two years for the Detroit Police Department. Thanks to an agreement with the nonprofit Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society, this program won’t cost the city anything, because GPAAS is covering the cost of the dog — about $10,000 — and all related expenses, including current and ongoing training and equipping a vehicle for the K-9. “This is a great addition to our department as well as
our community,” Woods Public Safety Director John Kosanke said. “Duncan and Arcos are going to be a great team. They’re hopefully going to, over time, reduce crime.” Kosanke said the pair will also be ambassadors for the department, participating in community events and visiting local schools. “It’s a very exciting (opportunity),” GPAAS Executive Director Corinne Martin said. “We support the community through animal sheltering, but this is another way we can support the community — through law enforcement and a dog.” Gill, Kosanke and Grosse Pointe Farms Public Safety Lt. Tim Harris — the K-9 handler for Rocco and for the late Duke — traveled to Ohio Oct. 12 to meet prospective pups. Gill said the facility they visited had the young dogs go through assessment tests for qualities such as ability to track, ball drive and more. Arcos stood apart from the rest of the pack, and Gill was fortunate enough to have gotten See ARCOS on page 6A
Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety Director John Kosanke and officer Duncan Gill pose with Arcos, the department’s new K-9, at the Cook Schoolhouse Nov. 17. Photo by K. Michelle Moran
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Photo by Alyssa Ochss
Carlo’s Pizza from page 1A
U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Carlo’s Pizza has supplied the cadets with pizza for special events. Matt Warnke, owner of Carlo’s Pizza, provides the cadets with 14-15 pizzas for one event. “Obviously free of charge just to help Bryan (Mazey, program coordinator for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets) and everything else with their program,” Warnke said. The cadets have a dinner each year. Warnke said he has been supplying pizzas since about 2013 during recruitment. “When I took it over, we were already doing it and I just continued doing it,” Warnke said.
Trikes from page 3A
The vehicles, according to Gajewski, will allow officers to respond quickly in crowded or hard-to-reach areas where patrol cars might face limitations. It can also give officers a tactical advantage, he said. “From a policing standpoint, aside from the cool and fun factor, they’re quiet,” he said. The scooters also require less training than something like a motorcycle, Gajewski said. Additionally, he said it will help officers engage more with the community. “People see this, they’re going to pause, talk to the officer, they’re going to ask about it,” he said. “It’s a great community policing tool.”
Warnke said they will continue to supply pizzas for as long as the program continues. Clyburn said everything is supplied locally and that they receive no federal funding for their programs. The cadets learn how to scuba dive to conduct underwater research. Clyburn said they have a junior and a senior program. The seniors run the Pride of Michigan. While the program is year-round, they do a lot of training in the summer. The cadets train two Saturday mornings a month during the winter and during the summer they conduct 30 to 40 days of training. According to its website, the division is composed of teenagers living in southeastern Michigan. For more information, go to prideofmichigan.org.
In a statement, Warren Police Commissioner Eric Hawkins called the scooters a game-changer. “Police departments nationwide are always exploring new ways to get officers out of their vehicles and interacting more directly with the community,” he said. “In sprawling suburban areas like Warren, foot and bicycle patrols aren’t always practical for covering large distances or responding quickly. These trike scooters, beyond their appealing look and fun factor, offer a much more practical solution.” The scooters were unveiled to the public on Halloween night, though Gajewski said the department is already considering other uses for them. “My mind goes to next year’s events. The Birthday Bash, presidential details, parades, all of these things … We’re going to actually get some operational use,” he said.
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Capt. Luke Clyburn and Carlo’s Pizza owner Matt Warnke hold up a sign for the Pride of Michigan inside of the pizza shop.
C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
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Arcos from page 4A
first pick of the dogs. “He crushed it,” Gill said of the tests. “To me, he was the standout.” The department needs a dog that’s not only good at crime-fighting, but is also sociable. Arcos appears to be both. “I just love his personality,” Kosanke said of Arcos. “He’s a cool boy.” The Woods City Council voted unanimously in favor of an agreement with GPAAS for the K-9 program as part of its consent agenda Aug. 4. “The City is absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of our new K-9 dog, Arcos, and are grateful to the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society for the partnership,” Assistant City Manager Susan Como said by email. “We are very much looking forward to introducing Arcos to the community. He will be a tremendous addition to our Department of Public Safety and to the safety and well-being of our residents.” Kosanke said a handful of officers in the Woods applied to be the K-9 handler. It’s a hefty responsibility, because the K-9 also lives with the officer, and the position entails a lot of work outside of the officer’s regular shifts. Along with officers from the other Pointes and Harper Woods, Gill has for the last four years been a member of the Special Response Team, which is similar to a SWAT team. “It was just an opportunity that came up that I couldn’t pass up,” Gill said of applying to become the city’s K-9 handler. He said he’s had hunting dogs all his
Photo by K. Michelle Moran
Arcos, a German shepherd, was born in the Czech Republic and celebrated his second birthday earlier this month. life.
“I’ve always been passionate about dogs,” Gill said. GPAAS previously supported the Harper Woods Public Safety Department K-9 program, but when their K-9, Kaiser, retired earlier this year, Harper Woods decided not to get another dog, despite Kaiser’s handler, Sgt. Steve Johnson, being willing to work with a new K-9. The GPAAS partner-
ship with Harper Woods was from 2016 to 2025, Martin said. When Martin approached Grosse Pointe Woods to see if it might be interested in getting a K-9, lifelong dog lover Kosanke leapt at the opportunity. The Woods briefly had a K-9 before, when officer Dan Schewe joined the department in 2015 and brought his K-9, Xander, with him. However, when Schewe left the Woods about a year later for a position in another community, the city lost its K-9 as well. “I think that this is going to be an asset to the city and the community, and I can’t wait for all of the people in the community to meet Arcos,” said Sharon Peters, of Grosse Pointe Shores, who co-chairs the Woods K-9 program with Martin through GPAAS. Kosanke said Arcos will serve in the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods, as part of the mutual aid pact, and may also respond at times in other neighboring jurisdictions because those experiences hone a K-9’s skills. “That’s how he’s going to get better,” Kosanke said. “He’ll go into other communities.” Gill said he named his dog after a working K-9 who was killed in the line of duty while serving with U.S. Special Forces in Iraq in 2005. He said many military dogs are Belgian Malinois or Dutch shepherds, but this Arcos was a German shepherd. “I knew I wanted to pay homage to someone who came before him,” Gill said. It’s been an eventful year for Gill, who just got married in September. The Macomb Township native and Dakota High School graduate had two other dogs at home before Arcos — a Brittany spaniel and a Dutch shepherd rescue — but they haven’t had any
interaction with Arcos because Arcos needs to be focused on work and avoid possible injury from roughhousing with other dogs. Fortunately, Arcos already has a buddy. “He’s my best friend,” Gill said. “Everywhere I go, he goes.” At press time, Arcos was undergoing training in tracking, building searches, handler protection, evidence search, apprehension and narcotics. Gill said Arcos will likely complete training and be certified by January or early February 2026, at which time he’ll start working. Gill can’t wait — and Arcos seems to be enthused as well. Gill said he’s looking forward to “the opportunity to serve the community in a different level. I’m excited for him to be out there and be the new face of the department — and, of course, catch bad guys. That’s what they’re for.” Once he’s in service, Arcos will have his own Instagram page, K9_Arcos. There will also be updates and information about fundraisers for Arcos on the Grosse Pointe Woods Public Safety and Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society Facebook pages, Kosanke said. Those who want to support Arcos and the Woods’ K-9 program can do so by sending checks to GPAAS and indicating in the subject line that the gifts are for this purpose. Donations can be dropped off at GPAAS offices between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at 20542 Harper Ave. in Harper Woods, or they can be mailed to GPAAS at 296 Chalfonte Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. For more information, visit gpaas.org. At this time, Martin said they can’t accept online donations.
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C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
Address from page 1A
the county’s woes from the start of the last decade was matched by another veteran of the era, Macomb County Board of Commissioners Chair Joe Sabatini. “Finances (resonated the most) with me just because I’m an accountant at heart,” Sabatini said after the address. “When I was initially elected a commissioner, what Mark was talking about, we were in dire straits. The economy was going in a different direction, our finances were upside down, we didn’t have pensions funded correctly. You name it, we had a problem. Now we’re sitting on $130 million in our fund balance. I’m proud to say that I was part of that solution, and that did not just happen overnight, obviously. It took a lot of strategic actions and planning … I was here and I’ve seen where it’s gone to today, and it’s literally been a 180 whirlwind to where we’re at today.” Speaking about the county’s economy, Hackel highlighted its strong ties with the defense and manufacturing industries. While much time was given to showcasing the new F-15EX fighter and KC-46 refuel-
ing missions at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Hackel drew significant applause by highlighting that the county now had its strongest production level in 200 years at $56.4 billion. The county’s gross production totaled $33 billion when the 2010 charter went into effect. Hackel’s remarks related to quality of life in the county dealt with managing natural resources and supporting projects in its communities. Among the projects highlighted were Mount Clemens’ multifaceted downtown and riverfront overhaul project; Macomb Township’s expansion of Broughton Road into a north-south, mixedused boulevard; Sterling Heights’ ongoing work to convert the Lakeside Mall site into a community; and Utica’s new headquarters for United Shore Professional Baseball League owners General Sports and the LegaSea Aquarium & The Reptarium. The highlighted environmental projects included the Green Macomb tree canopy campaign responsible for 200,000 new trees since 2015, and various efforts to improve the health and quality of waterways like Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River, which make up a $1.7 billion “blue economy.” Hackel also highlighted the revival of Freedom Hill as an event
venue, which hosted 31 shows and 161,000 attendees in the past year. The final points of the address focused on public safety, public health and education. The COMTEC dispatch center, the year-old Macomb County Sheriff ’s Office Marine Division headquarters, the underconstruction Central Intake and Assessment Center of the Macomb County Jail and Macomb County Community Mental Health all received shout-outs from Hackel. Progress at Macomb County Animal Control was given a particular emphasis, with Hackel highlighting the shift from its past as a high-kill-rate facility to one with a 95% “save rate.” In October, Hackel discussed moving or improving Macomb County Animal Control’s facility. Sabatini said one of the biggest issues facing the county government is the age and maintenance of its buildings. “Our infrastructure is a challenge for us right now because all of our buildings are 50-plus years old,” Sabatini said. “We have to make investments again into our infrastructure. It’s challenging because when you have a building that’s 50 years old, a lot of the parts don’t exist anymore. The specialists that built that or the boiler operators and
specific people (for operations and maintenance), there’s a shortage of those workers … Today when we look at the big picture, what we’re trying to do is work more efficiently and bring that infrastructure closer to our core. It’s a lot easier to manage. We’ve got 2 million square-feet right now of actual real estate that we manage and have to maintain.” Possible building projects Sabatini discussed included moving the Macomb County Health Department’s southern facilities to the Robert A. Verkulien Building in Clinton Township and consolidating the county’s Mount Clemens footprint, possibly into a single building on the former parking garage site at the 16th Circuit Court. The county has contracted with professional services firm Plante Moran for a space assessment of its facilities. As far as promoting the county, Hackel praised the “Make Macomb Your Home” brand for bringing outside eyes to the county and showcasing life across its communities. He also focused on infrastructure investments, including work to improve the county’s roadways and the rehabilitation of the Chapaton Pump Station and canal in St. Clair Shores.
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2026 colors of the year celebrate warm, sophisticated tones
Behr’s color of the year, “hidden gem,” is a great hue for a relaxing bathroom.
BY MARY BETH ALMOND malmond@candgnews.com
Photo provided by Behr
METRO DETROIT — Trend forecasters from major paint brands have announced their colors of the year for 2026. From versatile neutrals to rich browns to earthy greens, these hues are expected to dominate interiors for at least the next year. Benjamin Moore’s color of the year is “silhouette,” a mix of “rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal,” according to the company’s website. Andrea Magno, director of color marketing and design at Benjamin Moore, said the connection between fashion and interiors has always been a source of inspiration, but this year in particular she’s noticed a renewed interest in suiting and classic silhouettes, the resurgence of timeless pieces, and the growing interest in the brown color family. “Silhouette embodies these qualities with its depth and luxurious blend of burnt umber and delicate charcoal undertones. Like a perfectly tailored suit, this hue has the versatility and softness to bring a space from expected to exceptional,” Magno said in a statement. Every year, the Benjamin Moore PaintOutlets.com locations in Rochester, Shelby Township and Macomb Township have a Color of the Year wall on display for patrons to see the color in person. “Every year, we repaint the wall and we use different sheens on the wall so people can see what sheen does to color also,” said Merlin Bush, president of PaintOutlets.com, which sells Benjamin Moore products. Bush said he really likes this year’s color. “They wove some luxurious burnt umber into the gray, which creates a nice hue that’s chic and looks great on the walls that people are doing,” he said. “It looks great with almost anything.” Behr announced “hidden gem,” a smoky jade, as its 2026 color of the year. The color,
“Universal khaki,” by Sherwin-Williams adds a soft look to kitchen cabinets. Photo provided by Sherwin-Williams
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C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
Paint from page 8A
Behr officials said, is a dynamic blend of blue and green that creates environments that feel both grounded and energizing. “Now more than ever, there’s a growing appetite for colors that challenge convention and bring an unexpected sense of wonder to everyday spaces,” Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint Co., said in a prepared statement. “Hidden Gem captures that spirit in both name and color — its depth and refinement meets the desire for colors that are eternally stunning and stylish.” The Sherwin-Williams 2026 color of the year, “universal khaki,” was selected by the company’s global “trendsight” team to be an ultra-usable hue, tailored for classic sophistication, according to Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “Khaki is more than just a neutral — it’s a timeless, go-anywhere shade that brings a sense of grounded elegance to any space,” Wadden said in a prepared statement. “With its warm, earthy undertones, Universal Khaki SW 6150 effortlessly complements a wide range of colors, creating a rich, inviting
backdrop that can transform an entire design with quiet confidence.” Naturally restorative and serene, “warm eucalyptus” is Valspar’s 2026 color of the year. The green hue, according to the company’s website, reflects “a collective desire for calm, grounding design” that adapts to the ever-changing pace of life. “Warm Eucalyptus is more than just a beautiful shade of green, it’s a reflection of the comfort we crave in our homes,” Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar, said in a statement. “Its warm undertones create a grounded, welcoming mood while drawing inspiration from nature and the familiarity of retro design.” Kim said the color encourages “restoration and resilience.” Homeowners can easily add small pops of trending colors to their homes with decor they can swap in and out. Colleen Lipp, of Huron Carpet and Floor Covering in Wixom, said she often helps clients with home design. “For the last several years I have been encouraging clients to go mostly monochromatic and then to pick up pops of color in the artwork, pillows, throws and things like that,” Lipp said. Or for a bolder look, homeowners can add a new color with a feature wall, or go all in by color drenching all the walls in a room.
ABOVE: Valspar’s color of the year, “warm eucalyptus,” is featured on the cabinets of this inviting kitchen area. Photo provided by Valspar
LEFT: “Silhouette,” Benjamin Moore’s 2026 color of the year, adorns the walls of this home. Photo provided by Benjamin Moore
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Patricia Joseph, left, and Rosy Burd volunteer at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, organizing racks of clothes for a giveaway outreach. Burd has been a member at the church for 50 years.
with o G
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from page 3A
“We don’t have young families anymore, and so a lot of our members have passed away and that’s where we’re at,” Brannon said. Reneé Hilla, building administrator and confidential pastoral secretary, said they also don’t bring in enough money from donations to sustain the church. “We’re not like in bankruptcy or anything like that now, but we see that without there being a change we will not be able to continue paying our bills next year or after unless something changes,” Hilla said. Hilla said they need a Christmas miracle or someone to come and save them. At this point, the church is expecting to close its doors in the spring with the first service after Easter being its last. Hilla also mentioned Brannon is also the pastor for Triumphant Cross, a Lutheran church in St. Clair Shores. Brannon said declining population is not just a problem for the Lutheran church, but for churches across all denominations. He received a letter from the Archdiocese of Detroit, stating the Catholic population has declined from 1.5 million to 900,000 people, with intentions to close five parishes in Southeast Michigan. “It’s where we are,” Brannon said. The church falls under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Donald P. Kreiss, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Southeast Michigan Synod. Brannon went on to say the Bethlehem Lutheran Church has been a beacon of hope for people. In the past, the church offered a
free meal once a month and currently it has a clothing giveaway every second Saturday of the month. Racks and racks of clothing fill the hall with a $1 donation to come look at clothing and take some home. “If this church does close, the community clothing giveaway will go to the other church,” Brannon said. Rosy Burd has attended to the clothing drive for around 20 years, and Pat Joseph also helps. Their next clothing drive is on Dec. 13. Brannon later said he’s seen the slow decline in attendance across all denominations and across all religions. He said since the COVID-19 pandemic, all denominations decreased. Hilla also said a lot of services can be found online. “It’s not the same though,” Hilla said. “When you get here, you get that companionship with other members. It’s not the same. It’s really not.” Brannon said it has been a slow decline. They also have two people who are “snowbirds” who tithe at their church in Florida during the winter. “It’s a wonderful place,” Brannon said. “But it’s been one of those things to just be sad to watch it as people age.” “It’s very welcoming here,” Hilla said. Brannon and Hill both agreed it’s a tight-knit congregation with a family feel. “We all support each other, if somebody’s sick we pray for each other,” Hilla said. “We love each other.” Brannon has been with the church for 16 years while Hilla has been with the church for three years. Brannon would like the community to know their church is open to everyone and they are a “non-judgement zone.”
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C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
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• Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer • We Buy, Sell & Trade all types of New and Used Guns • Our Specialty is 1st time Buyers
Safes & Guns Unlimited
3361 Orchard Lake Rd, Keego Harbor, MI 48320
Either Individual or Whole Estates 248-738-1500 safesandgunsunlimited.com
0383-2550
C & G NEWSPAPERS MACOMB COUNTY/GROSSE POINTE SPECIAL EDITION • DECEMBER 31, 2025
12A
“So many people don’t have support and I think all of us need connection.” — Pam VOLUNTEER at the helm After retiring, Pam was looking for things to do to help make her life more meaningful. She now volunteers for The Helm as a Friendly Reassurance Program caller. Pam regularly checks in with homebound seniors to talk about overall well-being and help alleviate feelings of loneliness or social isolation.
Interested in volunteering at The Helm? Scan the QR Code. 313.882.9600 Life’s a journey. Find your way.
visit: helmlife.org 0002-2551