Warren Weekly | Published November 20, 2023
‘Tis the season
BLOOMFIELD HILLS — Several local theater groups — including members of the Warren Civic Theatre — are sharing their talents this Christmas season to spread holiday cheer.
More than 40 local actors of all ages will sing and dance in “Cabaret for the Claus” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Marian High School, 7225 Lahser Road. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The musical show will feature several songs, including “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Christmas Tree Farm,” by Taylor Swift, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” from “Frozen,” and “What Christmas Means to Me,” by Stevie Wonder. The evening also will include visits with Santa, cookies, a hot cocoa bar, a S’Elfie’ photo station and a craft station.
Admission is just one new, unwrapped toy per person, or $15 per person, although toys are preferred. The items will be donated to The Bottomless Toy Chest, a Troy-based organization that provides toys and comfort to children battling cancer in local hospitals.
The event is sponsored in part by Bev’s Angels, the Marian International Thespian Society, Marian National Honor Society, Barton Malow, and the Warren Civic Theatre. For more information, visit bottomlesstoychest.org.
Gobbling to the music
METRO DETROIT — This week, several high school marching bands will entertain for the holidays. At press time, members of the Center Line High School band were tuning their instruments to march in the Mount Clemens Santa Parade on Nov. 18.
The Warren Mott Marauder Music Machine will perform Nov. 23 in America’s Thanksgiving Day parade on Woodward Avenue in Detroit, which will be broadcast on WDIV Channel 4 from 9 a.m. until noon.
The Fitzgerald High School marching band will participate in the Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 24. It begins at 10 a.m. The parade Route begins at Kercheval Avenue starting at Lewiston Road in Grosse Pointe Farms and runs to Cadieux Road in Grosse Pointe Park.
Warren teachers receive MSGCU grants
WARREN/CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union recently announced its 2023 Classroom Cash Grants recipients, which included teachers from Warren.
Lincoln High School teacher Abigail Johnson, from the Van Dyke Public Schools district, and Cromie Elementary School educator Ashley Zachwieja, from Warren Consolidated Schools, were among the recipients.
Each teacher received a grant worth up to $750 to help implement innovative learning experiences designed to promote students’ exploration, independent thinking and problem solving. Teachers submitted project ideas in math, science, literacy, social and emotional learning, and physical education.
Classroom Cash Grants winners were determined based on total votes cast by students, parents, colleagues, family members and friends during an 11-day public online voting campaign.
MSGCU awarded more than $45,000 to 64 educators from 54 schools across the metro Detroit area. The Classroom Cash Grants initiative has funded nearly 1,200 projects since it was launched 18 years ago.
Emergency services simulate mass casualty event
MACOMB COUNTY — The Macomb County EMS Medical Control Authority conducted a full-scale simulation of a mass casualty event at Kensington Church in Clinton Township on the morning of Nov. 8. Over 200 participants from EMS and fire agencies, law enforcement, dispatch, emergency management and the Region 2 North Healthcare Coalition hospitals took part in the simulation to test and develop response strategies to mass casualty events.
“The safety and well-being of our community are top priorities,” said Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel in a press release. “Collaborative exercises like these play a crucial role in ensuring our emergency response teams are well prepared and equipped to handle any unforeseen challenges they may face.”
According to Macomb County officials, responding to events like mass shootings require a certain degree of planning and coordination between public safety and emergency management agencies. Events happen quickly — the November 2021 Oxford High School shooting took place over four minutes — requiring response efforts to be quick as well.