CLAWSON — Last year, Alyssa Depaolis and her two sons celebrated Christmas in a hotel room with just the three of them.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After half a century working for Clinton Township, Paul Brouwer is ready to retire.

MACOMB COUNTY — Whether Karen Avila is working at her corporate job for Comerica Bank or helping clients at the company she founded, AG Signing Services, the Roseville resident always tries to accomplish two goals: uplifting those around her and making a difference.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — West Bloomfield High School Assistant Principal Susan Aisner recently was in for a surprise when she walked into the West Bloomfield High School auditorium.

ROCHESTER — A local man has a second shot at life after suffering from cardiac arrest and collapsing on Main Street in downtown Rochester.

TROY — Hemanth Tadepalli, a 23-year-old Troy resident, is one of 38 individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that were honored at the 2024 Governor’s Service Awards by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission.

TROY — Troy School District librarian Christina Chatel and Boulan Park Middle School teacher Michelle Slaviero were recently honored by the Michigan Association of School Librarians with the 2024 MASL School Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award. 

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — On the evening of Nov. 13, Trustee Nancy Nevers was the belle of the Macomb Township Board of Trustees’ bimonthly ball.

FARMINGTON — Megan Saunders was named the Farmington Public Schools 2024-2025 Senior Extraordinaire and presented with a star trophy during the district’s annual senior breakfast on Oct. 17.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The Clinton Township Civic Center was named after Bob Cannon in a surprise agenda item at the Board of Trustees meeting on Nov. 12.

NOVI — A local fitness instructor has been credited with saving a man’s life after he suffered a heart attack while playing tennis at the Novi Athletic Club Oct. 18.

ROSEVILLE — The memory of Connor McMahon will live on each time someone enters the Recreation Authority of Roseville and Eastpointe building located at 18185 Sycamore St.

NOVI — The need for college funding resulted in one local doctor joining the U.S. Navy Reserve, but it was the love for country that he developed while serving that caused him to stay in the Reserve for 34 years, during which time he was deployed in two wars, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he held two of the highest offices that a family medical physician can hold in the Reserve.

ROSEVILLE/EASTPOINTE — There is a group of local residents and students who are always going the extra mile to help others, stay positive and strive to do the right thing.

TROY — Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D., who was appointed as the third Stephan Sharf dean of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, was inspired to pursue medicine after his younger brother was experiencing issues with a genetic condition.

NOVI — Many people might have noticed short videos appearing on the city of Novi’s website offering insight about the various places, services and things available in the city of Novi.

SOUTHFIELD — Almost a decade ago, Capt. Anna Jones traded her blazers and button-ups for camouflage and combat boots when she left her corporate marketing job to join the army.

ST. CLAIR SHORES — John Agnello, the man behind so many parades including the St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade, passed away on July 21. Family members and colleagues remembered him as a hard worker and a man incredibly dedicated to his city and his country.

NOVI — Kwame Kilpatrick, the former mayor of Detroit who was elected as a Democrat and convicted in 2013 of embezzling thousands of dollars from the city during his tenure as mayor, was a featured speaker at the Oakland County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi Aug. 21.

FRASER — Who knew a date for hamburgers could be the start of a seven-decade union? Well, Paul and Sharon Marinello might’ve had an inkling.