Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Beyond Juicery + Eatery Opens Dearborn Heights Location
Beyond Juicery + Eatery, headquartered in Royal Oak, has opened its newest location in Dearborn Heights, at 26733 Ford Rd.
The new restaurant is owned and operated by Ali Saab and Hussein Daher. The store is the brand’s first location in Dearborn. It also is Beyond Juicery + Eatery’s first Halal dining restaurant, with Halal-certified chicken, turkey, and beef bacon.
A grand opening will take place Nov. 19 and free smoothies will be offered from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
“It was important to us to bring a healthy concept to our community, and there really is no comparison to Beyond Juicery + Eatery,” Saab says. “With its inclusive menu and culture, there is so much to offer our future customers.
“There has definitely been an uptick in embracing a healthy lifestyle, and we are thrilled to be joining a business that is tapping into that demand — especially when we’re able to bring it to our hometown,” Saab says. “We are looking forward to opening, and are certain that our location will be welcomed by our community.”
J&B Pharmacy in Wixom Earns Mail Order, Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation
J&B Pharmacy Services Inc. in Wixom has earned URAC accreditation for Mail Order and Specialty Pharmacy.
URAC is an independent organization that promotes health care quality by setting high standards for clinical practice, consumer protections, performance measurement, operations, infrastructure, and risk management.
By achieving this status, J&B Pharmacy demonstrates commitment to quality care, enhanced processes, patient safety and improved outcomes, according to URAC.
“At J&B Pharmacy Services we are always striving to be a leader in our industry and achieve the highest level of excellence in delivering superior and safe patient care,” says Charlene Shaya, COO of the J&B Medical Family of Cos.
“As a URAC-accredited organization, we joined a select group of industry leaders that meet rigorous standards for health care quality, safety, and accountability. The URAC Accreditation validates our status as an outcomes-driven health care organization committed to achieving high standards of care.”
J&B Pharmacy Services is a closed-door, Mail Order and Specialty Pharmacy providing support for an extensive offering from prescription medications to medical supplies with an emphasis on diabetes care and medication therapy management. The pharmacy is licensed to provide pharmaceutical care for patients in 48 states and is “in-network” with various insurance plans and state Medicaid and Medicare plans across the country.
For more information, visit jandbpharmacy.com.
Lineage Logistics Extends U.S. EPA SmartWay Transport Partnership
Lineage Logistics, the temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions provider based in Novi, has renewed its participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership.
The SmartWay partnership is a program that provides a framework to assess the environmental performance and energy efficiency of goods moving through supply chains so partnering companies can reduce their environmental footprint.
“At Lineage, we recognize the opportunity our industry has in creating and advancing a more sustainable supply chain, and we look forward to working with the EPA and our carrier partners to further reduce our emissions and improve our energy efficiency,” says Greg Bryan, executive vice president of logistics at Lineage Logistics. “We are excited to lead the industry forward, and this partnership serves as yet another example of our ambition to be a better and more responsible company that aids in feeding the world.”
Lineage joins nearly 4,000 SmartWay partners including shippers, logistics companies, trucks, rail, barge, and multimodal carriers.
For information, visit here.
Ann Arbor’s NorthStar Care Community Receives $250K Challenge Match
NorthStar Care Community in Ann Arbor recently received a $250,000 challenge match from an anonymous donor supporting the creation of a simulation lab at the NorthStar Institute.
The not-for-profit is encouraging community members to help fund this innovative hospice training simulation lab by making a contribution that will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000 through Dec. 1.
The first of its kind in Michigan, NorthStar Institute is the training and innovation arm of Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice. The NorthStar Institute Simulation Lab includes a fully furnished, real-life patient environment featuring two of some of the world’s most realistic clinical teaching tools, Lifecast Manikins, and an adjacent debriefing room for clinical and instructional staff to review videotaped lab training sessions.
“We do find that some of our newly hired clinical staff come to us never having worked with dying patients,” says Rachel Derry, a registered nurse and director of the NorthStar Institute. “How do you teach them to have those crucial conversations? The cutting-edge, centralized Simulation Lab, coupled with regional Advanced Skills Labs that reinforces training, will help us teach these skills to new hires and keep even our most seasoned clinicians sharp to make sure our staff are fully prepared to get it right every time.”
Simulation-based education — a standard practice in clinical training — provides opportunities to hone clinical and decision-making skills through a myriad of real-life scenarios without compromising patient dignity.
While nursing schools across Michigan — and the country — utilize simulation labs to teach and train general skills, this approach has only just begun to gain traction in the hospice care arena.
To make a donation, visit here or here and select Simulation Lab from the drop down menu.
DTE Energy Foundation Provides $1.26M in Grants to Support Economic Progress
The DTE Energy Foundation has awarded $1.26 million in grants to 10 Detroit-area organizations committed to promoting economic prosperity and transforming regional communities for the benefit of all Michigan residents.
“Economic vitality driven by innovation and inclusive opportunities makes communities more desirable places to live, work and prosper,” says Lynette Dowler, president of, DTE Foundation. “We selected these organizations because they support families in need, attract people and businesses to our state, and promote events that connect each of us to our neighbors.
“Driving economic prosperity and helping communities transform during challenging times requires passion, energy and resources. The DTE Foundation is grateful to the organizations that perform this important work each day and we’re proud to support their efforts to create equity, opportunity, community vitality and sustainability across southeast Michigan.”
The grant details include:
ACCESS — $300,000.
Belle Isle Conservancy — $30,000.
Detroit Crime Commission — $30,000.
Detroit Economic Growth Corp. — $200,000.
Detroit Police Athletic League Inc. — $10,000.
Downtown Detroit Partnership — Detroit’s Tree Lighting Ceremony $450,000 and Detroit Homecoming IX $50,000.
Michigan Municipal League — $60,000.
TechTown Detroit — $40,000.
United Community Housing Coalition — $60,000.
Vanguard Community Development Corp. — $30,000.
Immersive Santa’s Flight Academy Returns to Great Lakes Crossing Nov. 17
Santa’s Flight Academy is returning to 11 Taubman shopping centers across the U.S., including Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills on Nov. 17.
The immersive Santa photo experience, offered in partnership with Cherry Hill Programs, enables children to dance in Santa’s magic mirror and turn into elite cadets to help Santa power his sleigh and chart his course for delivering presents to children around the world. The experience ends with a snowfall dance party inside Santa’s sleigh.
“Santa’s Flight Academy is now a beloved tradition in communities across the U.S.,” says Ivan Frank, vice president of center marketing for Bloomfield Hills-based Taubman. “We look forward to welcoming children and families back for this special tradition.”
A pre-paid photo package reservation is recommended and can be obtained on the website of the participating mall.
Gompers, Cornish & Barr Insurance in Macomb Township Celebrates 60th Anniversary
Macomb Township-based insurance agency Gompers, Cornish & Barr is celebrating 60 years in business this year.
Situated at the corner of 21 Mile Road and North Avenue, the company was founded by James Gompers in March 1962 in Detroit as a one-man shop, which he operated with his late wife, Esther.
James Gompers Insurance, as the company originally was known, would soon add partner Dick Wolfe to the company, leveraging Wolfe’s expertise in commercial insurance acquired during his tenure at The Hartford.
By 1971, the company would add a third partner, George Couillard, and move into its new headquarters on Old Eight Mile Road and Beaconsfield, before eventually moving to its current Macomb location in 1992. Now in its permanent home, the company known then as Gompers, Couillard & Wolfe purchased the land and built what would go on to become a recognizable landmark at one of Macomb County’s most-traveled intersections.
In November 2012, current owners and partners — President John Cornish and Vice President Jim Barr — purchased the business, and the company assumed its current name of Gompers, Cornish & Barr. As of today, the agency has grown to 20 employees and offers a complete range of personal and commercial insurance lines, independently representing multiple insurance carriers for its thousands of individual, family, and business clients.
“As our founder Mr. Gompers was fond of saying ‘We’ve built a company where your friends become your clients, and your clients become your friends,’ and we are proud to be carrying that legacy forward to this day,” Barr says.
For more information, visit gcbinsurance.com.
Detroit Public Theatre Open ‘Noura,’ Written and Starring Michigan Native
Detroit Public Theatre will present the Michigan premier of “Noura” on Nov. 16-18 at the company’s new venue at 3960 Third Ave. in the heart of Detroit’s cultural district. The play is written by Michigan-born, Iraqi-American playwright Heather Raffo, who also stars in the title role.
The play tells the story of Noura and her family, who fled their home in Iraq eight years ago. She plans the perfect Christmas dinner to celebrate their new life in New York. But when the arrival of a visitor stirs up long-buried memories, she and her husband are forced to confront the cost of their choices and retrace the past they left behind.
The production is sponsored by the Chaldean News. Tickets are can be purchased at detroitpublictheatre.org or by calling 313-974-7918.
Birmingham’s Màre Mediterranean Celebrates 1st Anniversary with Variety Benefit
Màre Mediterranean in downtown Birmingham is celebrating its first anniversary on Wednesday by offering a complimentary appetizer from its Crudo (Raw) Bar or Primi menus (limit one per table) and half off bottles of wine $100 and under, with the offer available starting tonight and running through Saturday.
On Wednesday, live entertainment will be provided by singer Jennifer Christiansen.
Additionally, proceeds from sales during this anniversary week will be donated to Variety — The Children’s Charity Detroit.
“Support from our guests — both regulars and new patrons — has been wonderful over this past year,” says Nino Cutraro, owner of the establishment. “Our one-year anniversary is a great opportunity to show our appreciation to the community.”
Reservations are recommended and may be made online at maremediterranean.com.
Mariners’ Church of Detroit to Host Annual Memorial Service Nov. 13
Mariners’ Church of Detroit, named the Maritime Sailors’ Cathedral by Gordon Lightfoot in the “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” will host its annual Great Lakes Memorial service at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The service will be streamed live on YouTube for people unable to attend in person.
The event pays tribute to all sailors who have lost their lives at sea. It includes an Honor Guard of Great Lakes-related maritime and military personnel and is highlighted by the church’s professional choir.
The service was first conducted in 1976 and originally included the ringing of the church’s “Brotherhood” bell 29 times, one for each sailor lost on the Fitzgerald which sank in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975.
“The Great Lakes represent a rich bounty for the entire country, and especially for those of us fortunate enough to live by their shores,” says Fr. Jeffrey Hubbard, pastor of Mariners’ Church of Detroit. “But they can become treacherous and unpredictable. Six thousand shipwrecks, and more we aren’t even aware of yet, and the 30,000 lives lost in them are all the proof we need of that. That’s why we take the time each year to reflect on those lives and to pray that there will be no more wrecks and no more deaths on the lakes in the future.”
For more information, visit marinerschurchofdetroit.org.
USA TODAY Nominates Detroit’s Thanksgiving Parade in Best Holiday Parade in America
The public is encouraged to vote for America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented buy Gardner White as one of the 10 Best Holiday Parades in America in USA TODAY. Visit here to vote through Dec. 5.
“We are thrilled to have USA TODAY nominate America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White as one of the best holiday parades in the country,” says Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Co., which produces the parade and other local events. “It is an honor to bring this amazing tradition to our community and millions around America and invite everyone to join us Thanksgiving morning.”
Detroit’s parade was voted No. 1 on the list in 2018 and 2019.
Gesher Plans Event to Raise Funds for Metro Detroit Women Seeking Urgent Employment
The 14th annual Trade Secrets event, a fundraiser for Gesher Human Services’ Women to Work Program, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Detroit Marriott Troy, 200 W. Big Beaver Rd.
This year’s event will feature honoree and speaker, Brenda Naomi Rosenberg, a Detroit fashion industry executive and style icon, who became a designer, globe-trotting photographer, and eventually an international peacebuilder after 9/11 when she worked to unite people of differing faiths against hate. Her memoir “Charmed” was published in June 2022, with all proceeds going to the Detroit Institute of Arts educational programs.
This year’s Trade Secrets Award recipient is Yolanda Lewis, a May 2022 graduate of Women to Work. Lewis, 50, of Southfield, was working at an agency that took care of seniors at home when the pandemic struck, and she lost her job while also dealing with her own health issues.
To purchase a sponsorship for Trade Secrets, click here.
ACCESS, Nation’s Largest Arab American Nonprofit, Celebrates 50 Years
Dearborn-based ACCESS invites the community to join it Nov. 17 for its 50th Anniversary Gala at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.
The event will bring together community members, stakeholders, and leading local, state, and national officials as the organization celebrates five decades of community building.
ACCESS currently provides more than 1 million annual services in 120 program areas, including workforce and economic development, physical and behavioral health, youth and educational advancement, and social services. It also houses three highly esteemed national institutions focusing on philanthropy, arts, and advocacy: the Arab American National Museum, the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, and the National Network for Arab American Communities.
“We began as a volunteer-run effort to support the unique needs of a growing immigrant population, working out of a small storefront in the south end of Dearborn,” says Maha Freij, president and CEO of ACCESS. “Today, more than 50 years later, ACCESS is the nation’s leading Arab American community nonprofit. This incredible journey would not be possible without our talented and committed staff and board members, compassionate donors and community, dedicated partners, and those we are committed to serving every single day.”
To purchase tickets or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit here or contact Miyan Sobh at msobh@accesscommunity.org or visit www.bit.ly/access50gala.
Salvation Army Receives $50K Grant from Bank of America to Help Feed Local Families
The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit has received a $50,000 grant from Bank of America to help feed individuals and families in need.
The grant will be used to provide thousands of “Bountiful Boxes” — holiday food boxes offering ingredients for diverse meal options — to individuals and families across Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.
Bank of America volunteers will pack the Bountiful Boxes, which The Salvation Army will deliver to local families for the holidays.
“There are those in our community who have to decide between things like paying for groceries or paying their utility bill,” says Lt. Col. John Turner, divisional commander and regional CEO for The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division. “Together, we can make a true impact for these neighbors in need,” says “We appreciate Bank of America’s generous award and continued support of the community.”
In Related News: The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit currently is accepting applications for Christmas assistance from residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties at all metro Detroit Salvation Army corps community centers.
Families with children up to age 14 may apply to receive Christmas assistance from The Salvation Army corps community centers for assistance with toys and holiday meals. Senior citizens will receive grocery store gift cards.
Applicants must provide proof of all members living in the household. Adults must provide a form of identification — which can include a driver’s license or state ID — and proof that they live in the ZIP code served by the corps at which they are applying (such as a recent utility bill or rent lease). Names and dates of birth for children in the household also are required so that assistance with toys may be provided.
To find the nearest center, visit sametrodetroit.org.
