Grosse Pointe Times | Published August 24, 2023
Longtime Grosse Pointer honored with portrait
Butzel attorney and former longtime Grosse Pointe Park resident Maura D. Corrigan, a former Michigan Supreme Court justice, is the subject of a new portrait by artist Patricia Hill Burnett that was created for the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.
A trailblazing attorney, Corrigan formerly served as a Wayne County assistant prosecutor, chief of appeals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit and the first female chief assistant U.S. Attorney. She also served on the Michigan Court of Appeals — where she eventually became the chief judge. A former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court — where she served from 1998 until 2011 — Corrigan is the only person who has ever been both a chief justice for the state Supreme Court and chief justice for the state Court of Appeals.
In 2011, Corrigan left her position on the Michigan Supreme Court to become director of the Michigan Department of Human Services under Gov. Rick Snyder. She later worked on poverty and child welfare issues for the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C.
High Holidays to be observed
The Grosse Pointe Jewish Council will hold High Holidays services to observe Rosh Hashanah Sept. 15 and Sept. 16. Yom Kippur services will take place Sept. 24 and Sept. 25. Special children’s services will be conducted for both holidays. Rabbi Joe Klein will officiate with Cantorial Soloist Bryant Frank. Besides religious services, the GPJC offers social and educational events. According to a press release, the GPJC “strives to promote the heritage and traditions of the Jewish religion and culture for the benefit of its membership and the community of metropolitan Detroit’s eastside.” For more information about the High Holidays services or GPJC membership, call (313) 882-6700 or email thegpjc@comcast.net.
Learn about Medicare options
The Helm at the Boll Life Center, 158 Ridge Road in Grosse Pointe Farms, will offer a New to Medicare workshop for those about to turn 65 at 7 p.m. Sept. 13. Medicare counselors will provide a thorough review of Medicare, including costs, prescription plans and the pros and cons of optional plans. This class is free but requires advance reservations, which can be made by visiting helmlife.org or calling (313) 882-9600.
For those who need additional help, The Helm provides free individual appointments all year with Medicare counselors. To schedule an appointment, contact Sarah Truss at struss@helmlife.org or (313) 649-2110.
T-shirt fundraiser honors retiring coach
This is the final season for longtime Grosse Pointe North High School girls cross country coach Scott Cooper, and in honor of his dedication and the impact he’s made on students over the years, the team is selling commemorative “Cooper’s Last Season” T-shirts. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will go to two organizations where Cooper volunteers: the Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Humane Society of Macomb. The shirts can be purchased from the North store, gpn.hwgfx.com.
Last After 6 of the season is Saturday
The final After 6 on Kercheval street festival for this summer will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 26 along Kercheval Avenue between Nottingham Road and Maryland Street in Grosse Pointe Park. RJ Spangler’s Planet D Nonet will perform, and there also will be magic by Gary Thison and juggling by Jonathan Haglund. Other attractions will include a 40-foot-tall Ferris wheel, the Two-Man Improvisational Interactive Show, the Grosse Pointe Alumni & Friends Dunk Tank, and a street market with goods and services for purchase.
Besides restaurants in the business district, visitors will find food and beverages from the food trucks Batter Up Waffle Co., People’s Pierogi Collective, Cult of the Joe Burger, Sno Biz Detroit, the Little Donut Factory and the French Cow Crepe Shop. For more information, visit the Grosse Pointe Park municipal website at grossepointepark.org or call the Parks and Recreation Department at (313) 822-2812.
Start your engines!
The annual Racing for Kids to the Hill street fair in Grosse Pointe Farms’ Hill business district on Kercheval Avenue will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 30. It will feature motorsports demonstrations, live entertainment, exotic and vintage cars, art stations from the College for Creative Studies, food from the National Coney Island food truck and more. A ticketed evening fundraiser for the nonprofit Racing for Kids will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 30. For fundraiser tickets or more information about the street fair, visit rfktothehill.org.
Print artists spotlighted
Artists including Mady Chen and Theresa Moore, pictured, have workArtists including Mady Chen and Theresa Moore, pictured, have works in “Impressions: Printmakers,” which is on display through Sept. 3 in the gallery at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, 240 Chalfonte Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms. Other artists with work in the exhibition include Joan Albert, Tudi Harwood, Deborah Maiale, Kathleen McNamee, Marat Paransky, Cindy Sommerville, Mary Stebbins Taitt, Nobuko Yamasaki and Lori Zurvalec. The gallery is open to visitors from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays and by appointment. For an appointment or more information, call the church at (313) 884-3075.