Dodge Introduces ’25 Hornet Hybrid, Chrysler Unveils ’25 Pacifica, Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid
Stellantis in Auburn Hills has taken off the wraps of two 2025 models — the Dodge Hornet hybrid compact SUV and the Chrysler Pacifica and the Pacifica plug-in hybrid SUV.
The Dodge Hornet represents a “historic step” on the brand’s century-plus journey to pure performance as the brand’s first electrified performance vehicle, according to the automaker.
It comes in four models: GT, G/T Plus, R/T, and R/T Plus. Available exterior colors include Acapulco Gold, Blu Bayou, Blue Steele, Gray Cray, Hot Tamale, Q Ball, and 8 Ball. Available interior options include black cloth/leatherette seats, black leather seats, red leather seats, and black Alcantara seats with red accents.
New features for 2025 include steering wheel paddle shifters for the Hornet GT and GT Plus as part of the Track Pack option and the vehicle qualifies the owner for an optional one-day session at Radford Racing School, the official high-performance driving school of Dodge//SRT.
For more information on the Dodge Hornet, visit here.
Pacifica delivers available all-wheel-drive (AWD) capability paired with Pacifica’s class-exclusive Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system, as well as the available Stow ‘n Vac system. Chrysler says Pacifica also provides the most standard safety features of any vehicle in its class, more storage capacity than full-size SUVs, and is the best road trip minivan in its class.
It comes in Select, Plug-in Hybrid Select, Limited, Pinnacle, and Plug-in Hybrid Pinnacle varieties. Exterior color options include Bright White, Ceramic Grey, Diamond Black, Fathom Blue, and Red Hot. Interior options include all-black (cloth, leatherette, and Nappa leather) and black/sepia (exclusive to Pinnacle model, sepia-quilted seats).
New for Pacifica in 2025 are:
- A Select model available for gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains, Limited model available in gas only, and Pinnacle models available in both gas and plug-in hybrid powertrains.
- S Appearance is now standard on Pacifica Limited and optional on Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Select with Premium Group.
- Premium Group, optional on Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid Select, includes S Appearance, Safety Sphere Group, Uconnect Theater and Sound Group, integrated Premium console with wireless charging, and dual-pane sunroof.
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror, second-row one-touch windows, universal garage door opener and premium carpets added as standard on all Select models.
For more information on Pacifica, visit here.
BELFOR Franchise Group Expands with New Facility in Ann Arbor
BELFOR Franchise Group has announced the opening of a new 35,000-square-foot franchise development and support facility in Ann Arbor.
The company designed the state-of-the-art facility to further enhance its franchise support platform and offer aspiring business owners interested in owning a service-oriented franchise a superior hands-on sales experience. The franchisor already has a 16,000-square-foot training facility in Ann Arbor that provides franchisees with a comprehensive education and field training program.
The new facility serves as an inclusive hub for franchise support, and houses most of BELFOR Franchise Group’s staff, including brand presidents, accounting, marketing, franchise sales and IT. This unification of industry experts under one roof is intended to give franchisees streamlined and efficient assistance across all business operations.
One feature of the Ann Arbor facility is its showroom, which highlights each of the company’s brands with service vehicles, initial equipment packages and other essential tools. The new showroom offers an interactive experience, enabling candidates to make informed decisions about joining the franchise family.
For more information, visit belforfranchisegroup.com.
American Heritage Brand Filson Opens in Canfield
Filson, the 127-year-old American heritage brand utilized by explorers, adventurers, and city dwellers alike, is opening a store-in-store on Sept. 19 in Canfield.
This 1,130-square-foot location will be nestled within the Shinola store at 441 W Canfield St. in Detroit. Filson officials say they are “thrilled” to bring the spirit of the Pacific Northwest to Canfield. This new location marks Filson’s entrance into the Detroit market and adds to its 13 stores nationwide.
Filson was established in Seattle in 1897 to outfit prospectors headed for the Yukon, the company’s legacy is built on its reputation for honesty, quality, and durability. Filson’s long-lasting gear is the choice of explorers, adventurers, ranchers, hunters, anglers, engineers, and anyone with a passion for the outdoors.
In celebration of the opening, Filson is hosting an opening night BBQ from 5-8 p.m. with a live DJ and will offer burgers, hot dogs, chips, as well as the Filson Classic beer. This celebration is open to the public and everyone will be able to enjoy bites, drinks, as well as view their men’s collection and their recently launched women’s debut collection.
Filson Canfield will be open from Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
California Biosciences Company Advances Collaboration with Ann Arbor’s Labcorp
California-based Xcell Biosciences Inc. announced it has advanced its collaboration with Labcorp in Ann Arbor with the installation of a new AVATAR Foundry system.
The installation, part of the beta access program for Xcellbio’s latest instrument, allows scientists at Labcorp to extend the potency benefits observed in small-scale workflows on the previously installed AVATAR Odyssey platform up to large-scale automated cell therapy manufacturing workflows.
University of Detroit Mercy ranked No. 43 in U.S. by The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse
The 2024-25 academic year at University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is off to a record-breaking start with the largest first-year class in more than 30 years and a ranking that puts it among the top 50 universities in the country.
The 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UDM No. 43 in the nation, nine places higher than it ranked UDM last year.
Last year’s No. 52 ranking led, in part, to a record first-year class this fall of 655 students on the McNichols Campus. This is an 18.7 percent increase over last year and largest incoming class since 1990. The 2024 class includes students from Michigan and 20 states and nine countries. Fifty percent of new students are the first in their family to attend university.
MSU, Merit Network Complete Statewide Broadband Infrastructure Project
Merit Network and Michigan State University in East Lansing have completed a multi-million-dollar project funded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Infrastructure program that has connected thousands of miles across Michigan’s many disparate Internet pathways across 74 counties.
This program, named the Michigan Open Optical Network – Leveraging Innovation to Get High-Speed Technology (MOON-Light), addressed critical infrastructure gaps by enabling technologically advanced, middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure across the state. It connected local Internet service providers (ISPs), bringing affordable, robust, high-speed broadband Internet to homes and businesses in Michigan’s underserved/unserved population areas.
When the project began in 2022, entire regions across Michigan lacked high-performance fiber optical connections to the Internet through mainline attachments (“middle-mile” infrastructure), and many residents remained unserved with approximately 380,000 lacking any connectivity to their homes and businesses (“last-mile” infrastructure).
Unlike closed (private) infrastructure that offer services from a single service provider to residents, the MOON-Light network provides regional connectivity through an open-access network approach. Open-access networks (OANs) are high-performance networks that are open to multiple providers that leverage the infrastructure to offer high-capacity broadband services to residents and businesses.
Common Ground Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Birmingham Street Art Fair
Common Ground is partnering with The Guild of Artists & Artisans to present the Common Ground’s Birmingham Street Art Fair.
Located in the heart of downtown Birmingham, in and around Shain Park, the event will take place on Sept. 28-29 and will be free to the public.
The fine art fair will showcase 100 artists, a silent art auction to benefit Common Ground, art activities for kids and adults, live music, and food. This event is within walking distance of convenient parking, many unique stores and restaurants.
For more information, visit here.
Bloomfield Township to Host Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day Sept. 28
Residents will be able to dispose of hazardous waste this next month, when the popular Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off Day event returns to the Township campus. This is the perfect opportunity to clean out your garage and basement, in an environmentally sound way.
Priority Waste crews will be on hand on Saturday, September 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take items such as drain cleaners, weed killer, gasoline, motor oil, starter fluid, transmission fluid, paint, fluorescent light bulbs/PBC ballasts, household batteries and automotive batteries, propane, fire extinguishers, old tires, and much more.
No electronic waste, medication or paper shredding will be accepted at this event.
On the day of the event, there will be two entrances to the event, south onto Andover Road from Long Lake Road or west onto Andover Road from southbound Telegraph. Stay in your vehicle. Volunteers will unload everything from your car.
The event is open to Township residents only, and proof of residency is required. Have your ID out and ready to show volunteers.
To see a thorough list of available recycling options for household items, visit Bloomfield Township Recycling.
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum Throwing Model T Sweet 116 Birthday Party
The Ford Model T will celebrate its birthday with a “Sweet 116 Party” on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum, which will offer free Model T rides, a vintage vehicle show, crafts for the kids, and food and shopping from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The line for free T rides will form at the historic front entrance. Activities in the museum’s first-floor event space are free and birthday cake will be served at Noon while supplies last.
To encourage a celebration of all vintage and antique vehicles, the museum is offering free admission for the driver of visiting cars manufactured before 1975. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission includes optional guided tours at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 to $18 and can be purchased here.
Boston Marathon Survivor Rebekah Gregory to Headline NCJW/MI Luncheon
The National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan (NCJW|MI) will host its annual Women of Vision fundraising event Sept. 26 at Adat Shalom Synagogue (29901 Middlebelt Road in Farmington Hills) featuring keynote speaker Rebekah Gregory, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing.
Gregory, a spectator at the marathon, suffered serious injuries shielding her 5-year-old son from the blast just a few feet away and had to have her leg amputated. Since then, she has undergone 76 surgeries, written a book called “Taking My Life Back,” and founded Rebekah’s Angels Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds trauma therapy for families.
The event also will honor skinnytees founder and owner Linda Schlesinger-Wagner, an advocate for women and children’s charities, with the Woman of Vision Award. Bookstock, a used book and media sale which supports educational and literacy initiatives in metro Detroit, will receive the Josephine S. Weiner Community Service Award.
For more information on the program, which includes boutiques on site and a raffle, or to buy tickets, go to ncjwmi.org/women-of-vision.
Gleaners Community Food Bank Teams Up with Weingartz to ‘Mow Down Hunger’
Gleaners Community Food Bank announced its 15th annual Mow Down Hunger campaign with match partner Weingartz. The campaign began Tuesday and continues through Oct. 1.
Weingartz has committed to matching donations during this campaign — dollar-for-dollar, up to 1 million meals. Thanks to Weingartz’s match, every $1 donated will provide six meals to local families. Over the previous 14 years, Weingartz has helped Gleaners provide more than 18 million meals for local families.
To participate, visit MowDownHunger.org.
Variety is Hosting a Mental Health Awareness Luncheon Sept. 26 in West Bloomfield
Variety, which supports mental health awareness, will host the Variety Mental Health Luncheon on Sept. 26 at Pine Lake Country Club in West Bloomfield Township to benefit Being You Being Strong.
The guest speaker will be Ginger Zee, chief meteorologist at ABC News. WXYZ-TV News Anchor Glenda Lewis will serve and MC for the event, which will include lunch, a special presentation, a Q&A session, and book signing opportunity.
Details of the Variety Mental Health Luncheon are available under the special events tab of our website by clicking here. Reservations may be made by calling 248-258-5511 or here.
Southwest Detroit Business Association’s Community Investment Breakfast Slated for Sept. 19
The Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) will host its 2024 Community Investment Breakfast fundraiser, presented by Bank of America, focusing on strategies to protect, preserve, and promote Southwest Detroit from 8-10 a.m. Sept. 19 at The Corner Ballpark (1680 Michigan Ave.) in Detroit.
This annual event celebrates SDBA’s nearly 70 years of service to the businesses and residents of southwest Detroit.
Jason Colthorp, WDIV TV 4 reporter and anchor, will serve as MC. This year’s theme — Southwest: Protect, Preserve, Promote — features a panel discussion with local leaders and experts on strategies to safeguard southwest Detroit’s cultural heritage and promote sustainable economic growth.
Each year, the SDBA honors local business and community leaders who contribute to making Southwest Detroit a vibrant and growing community. Awards presented include: Community Investment Award, Southwest Champion Award, and the Real Estate Development Award.
The SDBA is committed to recognizing BIPOC, immigrant, and Latina/o businesses; assisting with cultural market expansions; providing resources for new business development; supporting the renovation of existing businesses; and promoting economic stability and sustainability, all while keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive. Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at GiveButter. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, call 313-842-0986, email events@southwestdetroit.com, or visit SDBA Events.
Baldwin Society to Host German Octoberfest Sept. 19 in Birmingham
The Baldwin Society Supporting Older Adults is hosting its annual fall gala – with a Bavarian flair – on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 4-7pm at the Birmingham Country Club (1750 Saxon Drive).
Tickets for the event are $175, which includes authentic German cuisine, beverages, entertainment, and more. Proceeds from the event go toward helping the hundreds of older adults in Michigan who have trouble remaining independent due to gaps in government subsidy and assistance programs. Baldwin Society Supporting Older Adults is the only nonprofit created solely to address this issue and, since its founding in 2008, has raised more than $2.7 million dollars and helped countless older adults. Proceeds will also help to fund research on critical areas of aging such as preventing elder financial abuse and exploitation.
Last year’s fundraising efforts provided nearly $39,000 in emergency grant money to ensure older people in need could remain at home and independent, afforded micro- grants to 49 at-risk older adults, delivered 700 Holiday Hope care packages during the holidays, and funded outreach services and age- related research, including research on Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or here.
