A “bridge” for the community

If you stop by The War Memorial on any given Monday or Tuesday afternoon, you’re likely to see one of two local bridge clubs in action. 

A pair of Bridge clubs regularly meet at The War Memorial – The War Memorial Bridge Club on Mondays at noon, and The Alger Center Bridge Club which convenes on Tuesdays, also at noon.     

Bridge is a trick-taking card game that is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table.   

“There’s not much difference between the two clubs,” Tony Faint, director of The War Memorial Bridge Club, said. “The War Memorial Bridge Club is the original one.”   

Faint has been part of the Club for over a decade.    

A resident group of The War Memorial, Faint said The War Memorial Bridge Club has met at the nonprofit institution for about 20 years. About 30 people weekly attend War Memorial Bridge Club gatherings. 

“People who attend Bridge get comradeship, conversation, and the ability to meet in a friendly atmosphere with others who have common interest,” he said. “It’s not just sitting there and playing cards. Bridge is competitive and every new game is a challenge.”  

Alger Center Bridge Club Director Dave Fletcher explained that the two groups are essentially the same, just happening on different days, with different directors. 

“Originally it was The War Memorial Bridge Club, but it was always the Monday game,” he said. “Then during COVID, most of Bridge shut down so we stopped playing.” 

As more people returned to play, The War Memorial group resumed and demand grew. 

“There was a need for another day, so they needed to find a different director,” Fletcher said. “My club got started in September 2023.” 

He noted that Fred and Veronica Alger, who largely contributed for the newer Fred M. Alger Center, are avid Bridge players. 

“They pushed to bring Bridge back live and facilitated that with War Memorial management,” he said. “They were very instrumental in getting Bridge going again.” 

Speaking to why it makes sense to play at The War Memorial, Fletcher called it a “beautiful facility for that. We need tables and chairs in a big space. Bridge is a social game and for older people, they look forward to these weekly events for a social getaway.” 

Most Bridge Club players at The War Memorial are members of the American Contract Bridge League, or ACBL.  

“They are working toward winning points which can make you a life master Bridge player,” Fletcher explained. “We have sanctioned games, so the national organization recognizes that as a place to earn master points.” 

He said that typical weekly attendance for the Alger Center Bridge Club is 30 members. 

Interested in joining one of the clubs? Contact Fletcher at (586) 206-6556 or email hdfletch@aol.com. Faint can be reached at (760) 415-7313.  

Lakeshore Optimist of Grosse Pointe looks to build on community impact

It began meeting at The War Memorial over 40 years ago. 

In that time, Lakeshore Optimist of Grosse Pointe has served east side metro Detroit communities as part of Optimist International.  

“Being at The War Memorial was an opportunity for us when we first got together,” Lakeshore Optimist of Grosse Pointe President Steve Licari said. “We meet twice a month, and it was central to the Grosse Pointe area, as we cover all five Grosse Pointes.” 

Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local Clubs whose members work to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in kids, in their communities, and in themselves. 

Licari said that Lakeshore Optimist of Grosse Pointe, which has about 40 members, meets once a month at The War Memorial, on the second Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. Its next meeting here is Oct. 9. He added that the Club also meets at another location on the fourth Wednesday of the month. 

“The War Memorial is an accommodating location and the people that we work with at The War Memorial are pretty accommodating in helping us with our events,” Licari said. “When The War Memorial and Optimist Club work together, it gets the message out that we are here to serve and help. When you can see that momentum build in the community, that’s where you feel good about what you are doing.”   

Over the years, the Club has used The War Memorial for events like the high school oratorical competition, and Youth Appreciation Awards.  

One upcoming event for the Club is the annual Youth Appreciation Awards at The War Memorial. The awards will be held on Nov. 14, beginning at 6 p.m.  

“We contact Grosse Pointe Schools and they nominate students for these awards,” Licari, who has been part of the Club for one year, commented. “These awards are different from the oratorical competitions. Youth Appreciation Awards are for students who may do something special for the school, the community, or their classmates. We want to recognize them.” 

He added that part of the Club’s mission is to promote and help youth organizations. 

“It gives us an opportunity to reach out to students in the community who should be recognized for some of the things they do that are outside of the scholastic arena,” Licari said.  

Speaking about its members, he said that it’s vital that Optimist Club members be friends of youth and of the community. 

“They need to be available to help with youth opportunities that we can sponsor,” he said. “We do a lot of fundraisers to help youth organizations. There’s about a dozen organizations we give to on a traditional basis. It’s a good organization to help the community.”  

To learn more about the Lakeshore Optimist of Grosse Pointe, visit here. 

Men’s Club: A way to stay socially and personally active in your community

Fun, fellowship and festivities – those are the three “F’s” of the Men's Club of Grosse Pointe. 

The Men's Club of Grosse Pointe provides those elements and more for its members through social, educational and peer group association in its recreational and social activities.  

The Men’s Club is a resident community partner of The War Memorial, typically meeting at our nonprofit organization on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.  

“We are a very active and engaged group,” Men's Club of Grosse Pointe President Ed Wolking said. “We’re committed to topics in Grosse Pointe and inquisitive. It’s a way to stay socially and personally active in your community.”   

Early in the summer of 1959, War Memorial Director John Lake approached Edward Gehrig on the subject of forming a club for senior men.  

“Mr. Lake had felt for some time that there was a place in the community for such a group,” the club’s website notes. “He asked Ed’s opinion and Ed said it seemed like a good idea and he would think about it.” 
 
On July 15, 1959, nine men attended an exploratory meeting about the club at The War Memorial. By the time of its third meeting in September 1959, 40 men were present. 

“There were a lot of veterans who served in World War I and World War II and Grosse Pointe had a lot of people who were in the military,” Wolking said, referencing the club’s origins. “Being at The War Memorial is great, and The War Memorial is only going to get better as years go along.”  

Wolking has been a member of the club since 2016 and president of the group for the last year. Come Oct. 1, Dan Clark will serve as the president. Wolking estimates the club currently has 350 members.  

“About 30% of our current members are veterans,” Wolking said. “It’s a club of senior men, which makes for a good audience and there’s a symbiotic relationship between the Men’s Club and The War Memorial.”   

Criteria to be a member of the club includes being a male above the age of 55 who lives in what Wolking said as the “eastside” of metro Detroit. 

“You also have to have a sponsor- a current club member – to have a sponsorship to become a member,” Wolking said. “We’re really looking to grow our membership in the future.”   

A bi-weekly meeting of the Men’s Club, Wolking described, includes a full-blown membership meeting, with a luncheon, program and a speaker. 

This month, it meets on Sept. 10 and Sept. 24. The speaker at the first meeting of the month is John Gallagher, former senior business columnist at the Detroit Free Press and member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Then on Sept. 24, Mil Hurley will present to the group. Hurley is an advanced master gardener and will speak about the Moross Greenway Project. 

On Oct. 8, Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce President Jenny Boettcher will serve as the keynote speaker. The group’s Oct. 22 meeting will feature remarks from Michigan Sports Hall of Fame member Tom Gage. Gage worked as the Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Detroit News from 1979 to 2015.     

Aside from meeting at The War Memorial, the group has a book club, a bowling and golf league, and takes part in special events like the annual Christmas party and taking a boat ride on the Detroit River. 

For more information on the club, click here.   

War Memorial partners with Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary for annual run

Whether you participate or donate, the Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Run is positioned to be a chance to help others, like veterans. 

The 45th annual run is set for Saturday, Sept. 21, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Pier Park, located at 350 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The War Memorial is a proud sponsor of the run, which is seen as a fun, healthy hometown tradition. The series of races include a 5K and 10K run, 5K competitive walk and 5K wheelchair, 1-mile fun run, and a leisure 5K walk.  

“What I love about Rotary is our national, international, and local impact, all at the same time,” Club President Sandra Cobb said. “If you have a heart of service and want to make a difference in the world, that seems like a huge task by yourself but with Rotary, you can partner with like-minded people around the world.”  

With the race, Cobb said that it’s nice to see the real impact that it has on young people.  

“They worked hard to get through high school and they have dreams and we get a chance to invest in these dreams,” she said.  

Funds raised by Rotary from the run go toward scholarships to graduating seniors. In the past year, Rotary provided $27,500 worth of scholarships.    

Race Director John Brooks describes Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club as business and professional leaders who give back to the local community and the international community at large. Brooks has been involved with the club from the beginning.   

The run marks the first time that the Sunrise Rotary has partnered with The War Memorial. 

“With this being The War Memorial’s 75th anniversary, we thought it would be a great idea to partner and add some runners,” Club Administrator Dennis Hyduk said. “We’re so happy to have The War Memorial partnering with us and celebrating their 75th anniversary.” 

To sign up to join The War Memorial team, click here. Proceeds raised by War Memorial team members will benefit the Patriotic Programming Fund, which provides free programming and special events for veterans and their families at The War Memorial. As part of registration, run participants will also receive a T-shirt, which includes The War Memorial logo. Even if not running or walking, folks can still support The War Memorial by making a donation. 

Race registration is from 7 to 8:30 a.m. The fun run starts at 8:30 a.m., with the 5K and 10K events taking off at 9 a.m. Hyduk noted that last year, the run attracted around 400 participants. 

Since 1991, the local club has served the Grosse Pointe community and beyond. Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary is part of Rotary International, one of the largest humanitarian service organizations in the world. Through its 501 (c) (3) foundation, the club supports many international projects, along with working hard to be effective locally.    

Regarding The War Memorial’s 75th anniversary, Cobb noted that our nonprofit organization has been making a difference in supporting the community.  

“When we come together, we can leverage the strength of both of our organizations and can have a greater impact that way,” she said.   

Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club, 34 members strong, meets on Tuesday mornings at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. 

For more details on the run and to register, click here. 

Providing resources and support, one family at a time

In short, the work of The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods is to provide free programs and resources for families. 

The Family Center was founded in 2000 by Diane Strickler, a registered nurse and social worker, on the premise that knowledgeable and skilled parents foster capable, healthy, and responsible young people. It evolved out of the Grosse Pointe Youth Summit, held in 1999, when community leaders and educators met to explore ways our community could become more youth and family friendly. Diane was the organization’s executive director for eight years.  

The Center is a resident partner at The War Memorial, with an office near the Business Center entrance. It has been headquartered at the nonprofit organization since 2017. Prior to that, The Family Center operated from Barnes Early Childhood Center in Grosse Pointe Woods. 

“Our mission is to help build happier and healthier families,” Family Center Executive Director Jennifer Bingaman said. “We now actively host or participate in over 100 events annually. We partner with seven school systems and our reach in the community has increased.”  

Through every age and stage, the Center helps people connect to programs and resources on a wide variety of topics important to families including family dynamics, parenting expertise, mental and physical wellbeing, trauma and grief, substance misuse prevention, and more. 

“The partnership has been nothing but positive,” Strickler said. “The Family Center staff with Jen and MaryJo and The War Memorial staff work well together.” 

Strickler adds that The War Memorial has been generous with space allowed for Family Center operations and in working together. 

Events held at The War Memorial by The Family Center include community book club, community wellness series, a special needs resource fair, preschool play group, and Hollyfest, The Family Center’s fundraiser. Hollyfest this year is set for Nov. 16, while the second annual resource fair took place in February at The War Memorial and attracted some 300 people and vendors from across the state.  

“This location is amazing because it is centrally located in the Pointes,” Bingaman said. “It’s a very welcoming and central meeting point. A lot of people have memories of coming to The War Memorial for different things, so it’s a special place to many people. The support we get when we host events here is unparallel.” 

Within the last year, Family Center Director of Programs & Administration MaryJo Harris said the Center has coordinated with the Healthy Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods Coalition, providing substance use prevention resources to area schools. 

“We get contacted all the time from families looking for help for therapists, counselors or general help with different concerns,” she said. “Knowing that we have so many resources that can help them is really good.” 

To learn more about the Center, click here.  

Planting community relationships one partner at a time

This time of year, the view from the lakefront side of The War Memorial blossoms, thanks in part to the work of the Grosse Pointe Garden Center. 

The Grosse Pointe Garden Center, Inc. is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to promote education, beautification, horticulture, and conservation in our community. It has operated from The War Memorial for over 70 years and currently has over 250 members.  

“The Garden Center coordinates with all the different community garden clubs to make this a true trial garden,” Candy Sweeny, co-president of the Grosse Pointe Garden Center, said. “It’s one of the few gardens done by volunteers. It’s been great working with The War Memorial. We have an office there now and it’s convenient to be at The War Memorial.” 

Sweeny leads the Center along with Co-President Sandie Fischer. Sweeny has been president for five years. 

The Center is a gardening resource for the Grosse Pointes and neighboring communities. It offers public lectures by noted speakers on gardening and conservation-related topics. 

Sweeny said the Center manages the Trial Gardens, Veterans Garden, and Perennial Arbor Gardens, located on the grounds of The War Memorial. 2022 marked the 70th anniversary of the Trial Gardens at The War Memorial. The Center dates back to September 1949, shortly after the establishment of the nonprofit institution.   

“The dues used to be $1 and they were hoping to get 1,000 members, which it’s never been,” Sweeny said. “The gardens have expanded to the Perennial Gardens that are full of native plants. It beautifies the whole setting on the lake.”  

It offers annual garden tours, bulb sales, workshops and many other activities and events. The Garden Center funds its many programs, projects, and activities from donations, memberships, and fundraisers. 

“The War Memorial lets up be creative in the gardens,” Sweeny commented. “The idea is to do things to make the gardens accessible for the public to view, whether it be for weddings, showers, or concerts at The War Memorial. There’s a respect for the center by The War Memorial for what we are trying to do.”   
Its next event is the 32nd annual Garden Tour on June 21 and June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m with the theme “Gardeners Create Community.”  

“It’s been very successful over the years,” Sweeny said. “We thought that Gardeners Create Community combines gardening and reaching out to the community so that people can see how other people garden, if there are native plants incorporated or pesticide free.”   

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day of. Advanced tickets are available online.  

In May, Grosse Pointe Garden Center Board Member Alaine Bush presented on Victory Gardens as part of The War Memorial’s Arsenal of Democracy exhibit, celebrating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. 

To learn more about the Grosse Pointe Garden Center, click here.   

Keeping stories alive: Grosse Pointe Veterans Club reflects on partnership with The War Memorial

Its mission is two-fold: to be an educational and social organization. 

The Grosse Pointe Veterans Club is a community veterans group of former and active-duty servicemen and women who have joined together to honor the traditions of the U. S. Armed Forces and to support the patriotic mission of military service organizations. 

The Veterans Club meets monthly at The War Memorial in the Veterans Room, located in the lower level of the historic Alger House.  

The Club has been headquartered at The War Memorial since at least the mid-1990s. Club membership is open to all honorably discharged veterans or active-duty personnel who live within 30 miles of The War Memorial.  

Currently, John Bates indicated the Club has 70 members. Bates has been the Club’s president for 20 years. He served in the Army in the early 1960s and was discharged as a sergeant. He notes that its membership peaked in the years following World War II, with around 140 members. The Club’s oldest member is 100-year-old World War II Veteran Larry Bennett. A former member who spent decades with the Club was Jean Gilbert, who passed away in December at age 105.  

“Jean was a coordinator to have members go to different schools and organizations and present a program about World War II,” Bates said. “Larry doesn’t miss a meeting.”   

The Club’s next event is its annual dinner on May 16 at 7 p.m. at The War Memorial. The dinner, which costs $35, includes salad, caprese chicken, herb roasted new potatoes, dinner rolls and butter, and cheesecake with fruit topping.  

In response to what he takes the most pride in with the Club, Bates indicated it is that the group keeps veterans educated on pertinent issues. 

“We want them to be informed of what is going on and after a meeting, we usually have historians that bring in material and we have discussions on what they did,” he said. “We just had a series on submarines.” 

Speaking to the Club’s history, Bates noted that its first president was Joe Trowern. He was president for over 20 years. Trowern passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, residing in the Grosse Pointe community for over 30 years. 

“The fellow that started the Veterans Club was Frank Sladen,” Bates said. “He was on the Board of Directors in 1949. He said it was strange that The War Memorial did not have a veterans club. It had been meeting next door at the church. They ran out of space at the church, so brought it over to The War Memorial.”   

Discussing what he values about the partnership with The War Memorial, Bates said that the Club and the nonprofit organization honors the military and those who have fallen. 

“It reminds people that there were wars and that lots of people served in them,” he said. “We always want to keep the memories alive.” 

To learn more about the Grosse Pointe Veterans Club, click here. 

Grosse Pointe Artists Association remains vibrant War Memorial partner

At The War Memorial, we are continually inspired by our friends and resident partners of the Grosse Pointe Artists Association (GPAA) and its extensive art-based opportunities available to community members and programming for veterans.  

“The Grosse Pointe Artists Association has found a perfect partner in The War Memorial,” GPAA President Karen Pope said. “Not only do we have a beautiful space for our home, but there is irreplaceable synergy. We both focus our efforts on providing opportunities to enrich lives through the arts.” 

GPAA provides a diverse offering of art classes lead by high caliber instructors, exhibitions to celebrate local artists and inspire new talent, programming to engage and educate the public and more.    

The Association, established in 1927, initially got involved with what is now The War Memorial around 1941 when it had exhibits and classes at the Alger House Branch of the Detroit Institute of Arts. After years of moving from one commercial space to another, the Association returned to The War Memorial in May 2016.  

Regarding the importance of the arts, Pope is confident of its relevance. 

“We believe researchers Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross who wrote the New York Times bestseller ‘Your Brain on Art.’ They report ‘the arts can deliver potent, accessible and proven solutions for everyone’s well-being.’” 

Pope comments that the Artists Association is focused on the visual arts. 

“Its classes offer a wide range of topics for experienced to beginning artists taught by exceptional artists, from a gold medal-winning watercolorist to a courtroom artist whose work is sought after by national publications,” she said. 

The Association offers many experiences due to its diverse membership being willing to share several contacts. Input from the membership guides the direction of the Artists Association. For instance, at the gallery talks that open each of its exhibitions, the Association asks the audience to suggest themes for upcoming exhibitions. 

The Association’s general programming is also in response to community suggestions. An Evening Out on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. is for veterans and their families. A Morning Out on the first and third Tuesday mornings of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon includes discussions on art topics followed by artmaking. 

A current Association exhibit in the Patriot Gallery at The War Memorial is Soulful Stitches: 21 Quilts/21Stories, an exhibition by the Cre8tive Circles. The exhibit runs through May 2 and features quilted artwork. The gallery is in the lower level of the Fred M. Alger Center.   

Further examples of current Association collaborations include hosting an exhibition by the Lakeshore Palette Club of St. Clair Shores through May 2 in the Association’s Art Gallery near the Business Center entrance of The War Memorial. The Association is also working with the Grosse Pointe Historical Society, Grosse Pointe Public Schools and the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society of Eastpointe on an exhibition and lecture series to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. That exhibit will lead up to The War Memorial’s 80th Anniversary of D-Day Ceremony on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m. To register for the free event, click here.  

Learn more about GPAA by visiting its website by clicking here.