FARMINGTON HILLS — Farmington Hills resident Heidi Stamper made a decision in June that she now credits with saving her life.

METRO DETROIT — The voting process looks a lot different than it did even as recently as five years ago for many Michigan residents.

MADISON HEIGHTS/HAZEL PARK — In the Madison-Park News coverage area, voters will elect candidates vying for various federal, state, county, judicial and school board seats on Nov. 8. Voters will also decide state-level judicial contests.

METRO DETROIT — In October, pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colors are set out on porches to decorate for the spookiest time of year.

MADISON HEIGHTS — The Madison Heights Arts Board is kicking off the Halloween season early this year with the return of its Pumpkin Walk event, now in its fourth year. Attendees can look forward to trick-or-treating along park trails, enjoying the atmosphere of a fall night with decor and music to match.

MADISON HEIGHTS — For more than 20 years, a program at the Active Adult Center in Madison Heights has been helping people complete their taxes. Last year, four volunteers completed returns for more than 100 clients. In years prior, up to seven completed returns for 300-400 clients.

MADISON HEIGHTS — What began as an experiment at the start of the pandemic has proven to have real staying power, as the Madison Heights Food Pantry continues to distribute food and other goods to those in need.

MOUNT CLEMENS/HARRISON TOWNSHIP/CLINTON TOWNSHIP — In the Journal coverage area, voters will elect candidates vying for various federal, state, county, judicial and school board seats on Nov. 8. They will also pick candidates for county executive, Clinton Township trustee, local school boards, and various judicial posts.

NOVI — The Motor City Comic Con will hold its second show this year at the Suburban Collection Showplace this weekend, Oct. 14-16. This is the first time that the show has been held twice annually since 2006.

METRO DETROIT — Losing weight and getting in shape can be daunting, but one of the most effective means of doing both is cooking and preparing more nutritious meals using healthier methods.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Board of Trustees began their regular meeting Oct. 3 with a presentation on road work.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — The Department of the Air Force is considering Selfridge Air National Guard Base as the site of the foreign pilot training center for the F-35 fighter jet.

EASTPOINTE/WARREN — The Warren and Eastpointe fire departments are working together to investigate a pair of house fires that occurred the morning of Oct. 10 that Warren Fire Commissioner Skip McAdams said are “suspicious in origin.” At approximately 6:14 a.m.

NOVI — A California woman was sentenced in Oakland County Circuit Court Sept. 29 for attempting to have sex with a teenage boy from Novi in April.

NOVI — A Novi therapist with a passion for writing has three books for different age groups, including an adult mystery novel, a young adult mystery novel and a children’s book.

NOVI — A scholarship has been created in the wake of the tragic deaths of a 2018 Novi High School graduate and his girlfriend in early August.

SOUTHFIELD — Local artists will perform dance, poetry, songs, music and more at an upcoming event that will highlight awareness for those receiving foster care services, as well as those aging out of the system, with the goal of driving more resources their way.

ROCHESTER HILLS — A 74-year-old man from Rochester Hills has died from injuries sustained Sept. 20 after a woman ran a red light and struck a car he was riding in in Rochester Hills, according to police.

ROCHESTER HILLS – A 23-year-old woman from Rochester Hills died Sept. 20 after her car hit an embankment and became airborne before crashing on its side.