Dear Neighbor,
Labor Day has now come and gone, and with that, so has another beautiful Michigan summer. As we approach the beginning of autumn and the leaves begin to change, I encourage you to take advantage of everything our great state has to offer. From cider mills and pumpkin patches to scenic hiking trails and bountiful state parks, there’s no shortage of fall fun to be had here in the Mitten State!
Featured in This Newsletter:
- Free Dental Care for Veterans
- Honoring September as Suicide Prevention Month
- September is National Preparedness Month
- Fall Food Preservation
- Help Support Disabled Workers by Shopping on Trove Market
- Fall and Winter Pure Michigan Travel Guide Available
- Free National Park Day – September 27
- Celebrate Fire Prevention Week with the Sterling Heights Fire Department Open House
As always, it is an honor to represent you. If you would like any assistance with state-based issues, please feel free to reach out! You can email me at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov or call (517) 373-8360.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Free Dental Care for Veterans
The office of Brian Hadeed, DDS PLLC is showing their appreciation for those who have fought for our country by offering free dental care to veterans. Complementary services such as dental cleanings, exams, x-rays, fillings, and denture adjustments will be available on Nov. 12, 2025. If interested, please call their office at (586) 286-4500 and be sure to arrange to complete health history forms prior to your visit. Their office is located at 43421 Garfield, Suite 5, Clinton Twp., MI 48038.
Honoring September as Suicide Prevention Month
The devastation of suicide is far-reaching, impacting families and communities across our state and beyond. But suicide is preventable — and September, National Suicide Prevention Month, serves as a great opportunity to spread awareness and resources to connect residents with the help they may need.
- If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
- The Veterans Crisis Line provides free 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255.
- Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
- Get help for yourself or a loved one, learn the facts and warning signs, locate advocacy resources, and much more through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
September is National Preparedness Month
The month of September is FEMA’s National Preparedness Month! This month, FEMA encourages Americans to prepare for potential disasters by taking small steps that can make a big difference in the wake of an emergency.
The 2025 theme is Preparedness Starts at Home, which focuses on knowing your risk, making family emergency plans, building emergency supply kits, and getting involved within your community by taking action. Learn more below.
- Know your risk.
- Know what could happen where you and your family live. This helps you figure out what you need to do to stay safe. You can explore various disasters and emergencies on Ready.gov.
- Make a family emergency plan.
- Making a plan early helps you reduce stress and save time and money. Follow four easy steps and create a free Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily with this fillable form.
- Disasters are costly, but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. Taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs. Visit Ready.gov to see how you can be better prepared without breaking the bank.
- Build an emergency supply kit.
- Having enough food, water, and medicine can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Having what you need can also prevent injury and damage to your home.
- Build a go-bag with all the essentials you might need, so you don’t need to scramble in an evacuation situation. Find a list of supplies at Build A Kit.
- Get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.
- Emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. You may be able to save a life by taking simple actions immediately. You can learn these steps when you take a first aid class through many organizations in your community.
- Join a Community Emergency Response Team program and get trained on basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
- Take a free online independent study course through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute or a CPR course through the American Red Cross to learn more about how to help your community become more prepared.
Fall Food Preservation
With the first day of fall approaching, many Michiganders will be looking to harvest apples, beets, eggplants, pears, plums, squash, and much more from their local gardens. Luckily for those looking to harvest their garden grows, the Michigan eLibrary eResources have countless articles and guides for the safe and correct canning, dehydration, fermenting, and freezing of fresh foods for later consumption. Included below are some recommended articles.
Canning Foods
- The Homestead Canning Cookbook from the eBook Public Library Collection highlights step-by-step instructions for both water bath and pressure canning. If you’re looking to dig a little deeper, however, there are sections specific to preparing apples, peaches, and plums. For a thorough guide to canning all things tomatoes — crushed, halved, sauce, whole — be sure to consult Appendix B Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products from the Complete Guide to Food Preservation.
Dehydration
- If you are new to drying fruits to create healthy snacks, Fresh Food in a Jar: Pickling, Freezing, Drying, and Canning Made Easy is an eBook worth exploring. Making Raisins and Dried Apples are two processes with easy-to-follow steps and tips for drying evenly. It is pointed out in Dry Idea, an article from Hobby Farms in MasterFILE Complete, that the most time efficient tool to use is the electric food dehydrator. Additionally, the article offers “Five to Try” ideas for dehydrating various produce, including mushrooms, jalapeños, and pears.
Fermentation
- With a thorough explanation of the chemical process and benefits of fermentation, Ferment: Slow Down, Make Food to Last from Hobbies & Crafts Source offers detailed instructions on fermenting foods. There are also sections on krauts and kimchis, condiments, drinks, and main courses. For even more unique recipes, Fermenting Made Simple: Delicious Recipes to Improve Your Gut Health has sections dedicated to salt brine fermented beets and carrots as well as steps to make quick cultured ketchup and gingered applesauce.
- If you’re not certain which option to choose, Food Preservation Q&A from Hobby Farms is a resource for anyone exploring the health benefits of different preservation methods. Some techniques help to retain greater nutrients while others boast probiotic power which can support gut health and immunity. Whichever you choose, rest assured that preserving fruits and vegetables is a great way to head into a cold, Michigan winter.
Help Support Disabled Workers by Shopping on Trove Market
Trove Market is a first-of-its-kind marketplace created for individuals with disabilities to showcase and sell their creative works. This marketplace is exclusively for entrepreneurs who meet an income eligibility, with the goal of helping them achieve financial independence. Trove has a large array of categories such as clothing and accessories, jewelry, home and living, pet supplies, health and beauty, and so much more! To shop on Trove, please visit Trove Market, and if interested in selling on Trove, please visit Sell on Trove.
Fall and Winter Pure Michigan Travel Guide Available
The Fall and Winter Pure Michigan travel guides are now available! These guides are great for those looking to plan a trip, find fall and winter activities in our great state, or discover stunning sightseeing locations! The free travel guide is available in print and in a digital and universally accessible format, allowing you to access the guide from your desktop and mobile devices while on the go. If you would like a print copy, please contact my office.
Free National Park Day – September 27
On Sept. 27, you and your family and friends can enjoy the last of the warm weather and the start of the fall season at one of our national parks for free. This day offers a great experience to enjoy the many changing colors of fall at no cost.
All entrance fees will be waived nationwide. National Parks in Michigan that you may visit for free are Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Isle Royale National Park.
Michigan’s additional National Park units such as River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and more than 1,100 miles of the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail are always free.
Please note amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours are not free during these dates.
Celebrate Fire Prevention Week with the Sterling Heights Fire Department Open House
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11, and you can celebrate with the Sterling Heights Fire Department’s Open House. This annual event will be on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Fire Station 4. Their fire education program includes an award ceremony, activities for children and adults, tours, various displays, and refreshments.
For more information, please contact the Sterling Heights Fire Department by phone at (586) 446-2950 or by email at firedepartment@sterlingheights.gov.