A nearly 200-year-old schoolhouse in Washington Township is getting a second chance at life after sitting abandoned for 70 years.

The Thorington Schoolhouse, one of the community's oldest buildings, was carefully moved Friday to what officials hope will eventually become Thorington Park. The historic structure was relocated about a quarter of a mile from its original spot, where it had sat for almost two centuries.

"Since becoming Supervisor, I've been passionate about preserving the Thorington Schoolhouse. It's a local landmark that so many of us have come accustomed to seeing as we drive up Mound Road," said Sam Previti, Washington Township supervisor.

The township purchased the building in March, where teachers once engaged the minds of children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school closed in June 1955.

Moving the massive structure proved challenging for the crew.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by WXYZ Detroit Channel 7 (@wxyzdetroit)

"It's very difficult. This morning took us an hour to hook the truck up," said Fred Christian, owner of C & A Building Movers.

With the township's permission, Romeo High School construction teacher Craig Bryant challenged his students to help save and restore the building. The work started in September.

"I've been watching the building fall apart for the last 20 years, probably," Bryant said.

During their initial assessment, Bryant's class made some remarkable discoveries.

"When we first walked into the building, just to see where we stood with the building, what condition it was in, kind of looking around, and found a test," Bryant said.

The teacher says this fourth-grade test from the 1930s is one of several cool items his class found, with some in good shape and others a little rough.

MaryAnn Mueller was among those who witnessed Friday's move. She attended Thorington from 1952 through 1955 and lived just down the street on Mound Road.

"I remember running around that schoolhouse so many times," Mueller said.

She recalls the intimate learning environment of the one-room schoolhouse.

"Some years, I was the only student in my grade. There were three rows of desks, I think. There was a cloak room on either side. It was a lot of just reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also, it was interactions; they had parties," Mueller said.

Mueller says she's grateful for the township's community-wide effort to restore and preserve the building.

Over the next couple of years, Bryant's students will work on the house at its new location on 31 Mile Road between Mound and Campground.

"Restoring all the windows, we're gonna put the wavy glass in so something from that era, 1840s, 1850s," Bryant said.

When the public park is complete, Washington Township says the schoolhouse will sit in the center, fully restored and ready for perhaps another couple hundred years.

For Mueller, the restoration brings back cherished memories.

"I can't wait to walk back in again, my memories of walking in the door, and hanging up my coat, and being so excited to see my teacher. It's exciting," Mueller said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Wayne County nonprofit that provides critical services to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors is facing a funding crisis that could force it to turn away even more victims seeking help.

First Step, which has served survivors since 1978, held its annual gala Friday night at Laurel Manor in Livonia as the organization grapples with significant federal funding cuts and an uncertain future.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Wayne County nonprofit First Step faces funding crisis as domestic violence cases rise

"It feels like hope," said Jeni Hooper, interim executive director of First Step. "It feels like there's a lot of community."

The nonprofit relies heavily on federal funding from VOCA, the Victims of Crime Act, but Michigan received a 40% reduction from VOCA this fiscal year. First Step is now operating without a 2026 budget as federal funding has declined for the past decade while state funding has provided little to fill the gap.

"That's just it. Unfortunately, there have been cuts already and that's what's imminent. It's likely there are more cuts coming," Hooper said.

The funding crisis comes as domestic violence cases are becoming more severe. First Step reports that lethal cases, including strangulation and use of weapons, are on the rise in Michigan. The organization serves 6,000 to 7,000 people each year but has been forced to turn away 200 people or families every month this year due to a lack of beds.

"Closed doors, no services, inability to have their voices heard," Hooper said of what the funding cuts could mean.

The gala's keynote speaker was Jim Schmidt, the stepfather of Gabby Petito, who was murdered by her fianc in 2021. Schmidt has been on a mission to raise awareness about domestic violence and share Petito's story.

"Organizations like First Step are overwhelmed with the need in trying to provide support and services," Schmidt said. "The issues of domestic violence, really it's an epidemic, worldwide, not just nationwide. Unfortunately, we're going in the wrong direction."

Also attending the event was Faith Brown, a domestic violence survivor whose ex-husband killed her four children in August 2016, two of them in front of her.

"There is a lot of emotions, because it brings you back to the things you have gone through," Brown said. "This is why we have these fundraisers, in hopes we can prevent these things."

Watch Faith Brown's story when we spoke with her last year below: Breaking Free: How agencies are helping victims of abuse have a plan to get out

You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799 7233, text "START" to 88788 or chat on their website.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Two University of Michigan students are paying it forward one year after a near-death experience that changed both their lives forever.

Ethan King nearly lost his life after suffering a cardiac arrest while on a run on campus in August 2024 when he was a freshman. Now, he and the student who saved him are inspiring others to learn what to do in a similar situation.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: University of Michigan student who survived cardiac arrest teaching CPR with his hero

"I was with a group of about 30 or so kids when all of a sudden, I stumbled and fell over and collapsed," King said.

Just 18 years old and in his first week at the University of Michigan, King suffered a cardiac arrest that he barely remembers.

"I don't really remember that day or the day before," King said.

Hannah Stovall, though, remembers it all too well.

"Ethan was blue, eyes rolled into the back of his head," Stovall said. "It was not something I thought I'd ever have to see."

Watch our report from last year after the cardiac arrest below: Bystanders jump into action to help save University of Michigan student in cardiac arrest

But it's a good thing she did see it. At the time, Stovall was a senior at Michigan. She was on her way back from Burns Park when she saw King on the ground and immediately began CPR.

"As I was doing compressions, we watched his neck and face go from that pale blue color to splotchy red. I remember hearing someone say 'it's working, it's working,'" Stovall said.

It worked indeed. Just over a year later, King was among six local cardiac arrest survivors being celebrated at a university event Tuesday night, two days before World Restart A Heart Day.

Dr. Robert Neumar is the immediate past chair of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan. He says CPR is the most important therapy in treating cardiac arrest.

"The sooner that CPR is started, the more effective it is," Neumar said. "If they don't get that care in terms of early CPR, early defibrillation, we're limited in what we can do to improve survival once we get to the hospital."

According to the university, more than 350,000 Americans experience sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital, and nearly 9 in 10 of those people die in part due to not receiving CPR.

"For a lot of people, they feel very disconnected from cardiac arrest, seen as something meant for older people or pre-existing conditions," King said.

It's why King and Stovall started CAP, or Cardiac Arrest Preparation. In the last year, they've trained hundreds of Michigan students in hands-on CPR training.

"I'm kind of paying it forward. Got incredibly lucky that I survived cause the actual survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is less than 10%, so I got incredibly lucky that I survived," King said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Loved ones with family members buried at Hebrew Memorial Park in Clinton Township are speaking out about the condition of the cemetery, with a change.org petition advocating to beautify the grounds reaching over 1,100 signatures.

The 50-acre cemetery considered one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the Midwest contains nearly 30,000 graves and is nearly 100 years old.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Families raise concerns about conditions at Jewish cemetery in Clinton Township

Darcee Matlen, who has about 100 family members buried at the cemetery and started the petition, says the children's portion is particularly concerning for grieving parents.

"They're already devastated. They lost their babies," Matlen said.

She describes each visit as worse than the last, particularly over the past decade.

"I would say in the past 10 years, it has gotten frighteningly to the point of no return where we're worried," Matlen said.

Families cite concerns about weeds growing out of gravesites, some as tall as the tombstones themselves, along with cement curbings and irrigation pipes that have become tripping hazards.

Matlen shared an example of accessibility issues affecting visitors.

"There was an older woman in the baby section that when she got too old to climb over it and wanted to see her baby, her daughter would go on FaceTime and show her the baby's grave," Matlen said.

Steven Gershman, who has a dozen loved ones buried at the cemetery and plans to be buried there himself, says visits are unpredictable.

"I'm always a little scared not knowing what I'm going to find," Gershman said.

He referenced Jewish law in explaining the family's concerns.

"Under Jewish law, we are told Kavod HaMet, honor the dead that's all we're asking for, nothing more, nothing less," Gershman said.

In a statement to 7 News Detroit, Executive Director Rabbi Boruch Levin said Hebrew Memorial spends in excess of a million dollars a year at the 50-acre cemetery on weeding, planting, grass cutting, resurfacing roads, lifting fallen monuments and general maintenance.

Levin said landscaping is difficult because the founders of the cemetery created the cement curbings around each grave. As for the irrigation pipes being a trip hazard, he said it's impossible to place them underground due to the burials that have taken place.

The rabbi said leadership has met with the group requesting changes at the cemetery to address their issues, and other changes such as better signage were instituted. He said no one is turned away because of lack of funds and they will continue to be there for people.

However, families say they want more dialogue.

"We understand that it's a large cemetery, we understand they bury the indigent, but they do get the help of the state. We've heard all the reasons why not. We have the solutions. They're unwilling to meet with us the board won't have an open forum," Matlen said.

For Gershman, the condition of the cemetery adds to the pain of loss.

"It's painful enough that you have to come to a grave and especially when you come to a grave that's unkept, which is like another dagger in someone's heart," Gershman said.

Rabbi Levin's full statement can be read here:

"Hebrew Memorial Park, a 50-acre cemetery, was established almost one hundred years ago as a traditional Jewish cemetery by a group of civic-minded people. This non-profit cemetery, which has 27,000 burials, continues to be the resting place for a large cross-section of our community. No one is turned away due to a lack of funds. Because cremations are prohibited by Jewish law, it is our mission to assist families with honorable burials who would otherwise choose cremation due to their lack of ability to afford a burial. "Tradition tells us that graves should be respected and not stepped on, and as such the founders initiated large cement curbings around each grave. In the spirit of "to dust you shall return," no metal caskets or vaults are permitted at the cemetery. These restrictions, followed by only a few local cemeteries, understandably make landscaping much more difficult. The planted areas are large, the ground is sometimes uneven, and the equipment's maneuverability is hampered. "As an accommodation to the people who want plantings on their loved ones' graves, our perpetual and annual care program has been available for many decades. Unlike most cemeteries, Hebrew Memorial does not obligate anyone to purchase grave care services and indeed only about half do. Our standard of care has not fundamentally changed over our long history. Unfortunately, the irrigation pipes were not laid until years later, and now it's impossible to place them underground due to the burials that have taken place. "Hebrew Memorial spends in excess of a million dollars a year at the 50-acre cemetery, one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the Midwest, on weeding, planting, grass cutting, resurfacing roads, lifting fallen monuments, and general maintenance. "Through the years, several cemeteries have pleaded with Hebrew Memorial to take over operations due to funding. The board decided to accept responsibility so they would not become abandoned Jewish cemeteries. "The leadership met with the group requesting changes at the cemetery to address their issues. However, the board is not prepared to eliminate the curbings (which were one of their primary concerns) or allow vaults. Other changes, such as better signage, were instituted. "The cemetery assists many people, including Jewish individuals without family to support them, and assures that when their time comes, Hebrew Memorial, G-d willing, will be there for them."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Italian Heritage Month kicked off Wednesday with communities across the United States preparing to honor Italian heritage in America and the people who helped build this country.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Italian Heritage Month celebrates Detroit's rich cultural legacy

Allegra Baistrocchi, consul of Italy in Detroit, is overseeing her final Italian Heritage Month celebration after four years of service. Her office is filled with countless city awards, proclamations, and certificates recognizing her work promoting Italian language, culture, and commerce.

"The part that we love the most is the promotion of Italian language, culture, and commerce, which is something I've really dedicated four years of my life to," Baistrocchi said. "I'm a fourth-generation diplomat, so I adore this job."

Events planned throughout October include a Columbus Day dinner gala on the 13th, a street fair in Mt. Clemens on the 4th featuring a cannoli-eating contest, and an Italian Heritage Night with Detroit City FC.

"With DCFC we're doing an Italian heritage nightfootball, not soccer, it's football for us," Baistrocchi said.

Lia Adelfi, president of Dante Alighieri Michigan, praised Baistrocchi's impact on the community's cultural representation.

"For the last four years with consul Allegra Baistrocchi, I think we changed the status quo of the idea of an Italian - it's not only food, it's much more, aesthetics, music, language, culture, art," Adelfi said.

This year's celebration includes the dedication of a new aluminum sculpture in Farmington Hills. The leaf-shaped artwork will be placed in Farmington City Hall and represents the immigration experience and leaving behind one's own roots.

A significant preservation effort is also underway with the digitization of the Italian Tribune newspaper. Pamela White, co-publisher of the publication, is working with the consulate to preserve 100 years of Italian community history in southeastern Michigan.

"This is 100 years of what has gone on in the Italian community in southeastern Michigan," White said.

The Italian Tribune, which has been serving the community since 1909, is the longest-running Italian newspaper in the United States and has been run by the same family throughout its history.

"This is an amazing opportunity for Italians in the Detroit area," White said.

Each day during Italian Heritage Month, the consulate will post a story from the Tribune on its social media as a way to honor both Italians in Detroit and the historic newspaper.

Last year's Italian Heritage Month celebration included a mural in Eastern Market that shows the bond between Italy and the United States.

"It really is a testament of this, this is why we have heritage month - it tells about the people that created the US, the US is built on immigrants," Baistrocchi said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Detroit Red Wings are celebrating their centennial season with new merchandise, food options, and special events as they prepare to mark 100 years of hockey history.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Detroit Red Wings prepare to celebrate 100 years with merchandise, food, special events

I attended a sneak peek event at Little Caesars Arena, where team officials and fans got an early look at what's planned for the milestone season. The celebration includes everything from new jerseys to specialty food items, all designed around the number 100.

"It's a dream come true, you grow up in Detroit, rooting for the Detroit Red Wings," said Asia Gholston, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing at Illitch Sports and Entertainment.

For Gholston, working for the team she grew up cheering for adds special meaning to the centennial celebration.

"Comes with a sense of pride, but to be able to grow up and actually work here, it takes it to a different level," Gholston said.

The Red Wings will wear new centennial jerseys over a dozen times this season. The jerseys feature design elements paying homage to the team's history, including stripes and piping from the Detroit Falcons and a centennial patch on the shoulder.

"This is our sneak peek media event, what's new at Little Caesars Arena prior to the centennial season coming up starting next week," said Spencer Ambrosius, Senior Vice President, Ticket Sales and Premium.

The team is selling new merchandise throughout the season, including jackets that remind fans of the franchise's 11 Stanley Cup championships spanning from 1936 to 2008.

"This has our centennial logo on it, in addition to our classic winged wheel," said Elandra McConney, Director of Retail, Illitch Sports and Entertainment.

Food options are also getting the centennial treatment. Delaware North's Executive Chef at Little Caesars Arena, Troy Michalkiewicz, has developed new menu items inspired by Detroit's food scene.

"We really start to look at what people are eating around metro Detroit, and trying to think about what we can do here and make sure we're serving some really good street food," Michalkiewicz said.

The new offerings include house-brined pastrami that's cured for 14 days and smoked in-house, along with ramen and shawarma options that have already won over fans.

"This Ramen's really good, and I love the new shwarmas," said Eric Hambleton, a Red Wings fan.

The team is also planning special giveaways throughout the season, including vintage bobbleheads featuring the centennial logo and the number 100.

The celebration officially kicks off on November 6 with the start of the Hockeytown Centennial Fanfest, which will bring back over 50 former players. The festivities will include the retirement of Sergei Fedorov's number in January.

"This is Hockeytown and the Red Wings and this market, 11-time Stanley Cup champions, looking forward to celebrating that this season," Ambrosius said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A water main break in Novi that occurred last week continues to disrupt daily life across Oakland County, forcing business closures, school shutdowns and prompting new boil water advisories for several communities.

The break happened Thursday on 14 Mile Road west of M-5, causing a majority of Novi and surrounding communities to lose water pressure. Great Lakes Water Authority crews are still working to repair the damage five days later.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Water main break in Novi continues to impact Oakland County businesses and schools

Jacob Sessions, owner of Big Dip Burgers in Walled Lake, said the water loss forced him to close for an entire day last Thursday.

"I've never completely lost water pressure. This one shut us down for the day," Sessions said. "Couldn't do dishes, couldn't wash hands."

Pete Fromm, Great Lakes Water Authority director of water transmission, provided an update Monday from the repair site.

"We are hoping to lift that water advisory with the city of Novi tomorrow," Fromm said. "Working on doing some inside welding of the pipe, will be wrapping that up today."

Despite progress on pipe repairs, GLWA reported another loss in pressure Monday morning, prompting several cities to reissue new boil water advisories including Wixom, Walled Lake and Commerce Township.

"It will take us about three days to be able to lift that again," Fromm said.

The water issues have forced several area schools to close or dismiss students early due to low water supply. Wixom Public Library also shut down, posting on Facebook that water pressure affected restrooms.

Previous coverage: GLWA explains water main break occurrences, long-term solution

Work continues on Novi water main break

Sessions has had to adapt his restaurant operations, stocking his sauce refrigerator with soda and selling water bottles to customers.

"I feel bad for charging them for the water bottles, but I have to make up for what I spend on it," Sessions said. "Definitely frustrating, especially shutting down that first day and losing sales for that Thursday. Thursday is usually a pretty good day for us."

Related video: Businesses, neighbors navigate water main break Businesses, neighbors navigate water main break as repairs stretch overnight

Fromm urges residents and businesses to follow boil water guidelines while crews work to restore normal service.

"It's very important for the residents and businesses to boil their water and follow those restrictions for health reasons, and we're working as quickly as we can to be able lift those boil water advisories to those impacted communities," Fromm said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Dozens of Detroit-area veterans received free haircuts and beard trims Wednesday at a special "Cuts for a Cause" event in Warren, complete with a surprise visit from basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber.

Watch Evan Sery's video report: Veterans receive free haircuts, encouragement at Warren 'Cuts for a Cause' event

The event took place at a Warren United Auto Workers location, where Wahl's mobile barbershop provided the services through local volunteer barbers. Metro Detroit barber Enoc Taveras was among several participating in the charitable initiative.

"They say always enjoy your youth that's something sticking to me a lot," Taveras said.

Rather than receiving traditional tips, Taveras found himself getting life advice and hearing stories from veterans who have traveled the world.

"Yeah, it's amazing. Just hearing the stories, the countries they've been," Taveras said.

Justin Patricoff, a Wahl tour manager, explained the company's mission behind the mobile barbershop.

"We're trying to spread good will and good grooming," Patricoff said. "A lot of smiles out here today. The guys are looking refreshed."

The event featured an unexpected guest when basketball legend Webber stopped by to chat with veterans receiving services.

"These guys have made tremendous sacrifices and are wonderful personalities, so it's good to see them get out that chair with a little pep in their step, a little swag," Webber said.

Webber praised the volunteer barbers for their generosity.

"They're taking time away from work and from their income, volunteering to do this," Webber said.

Veteran James Henson, who served with Fort Bragg's 82nd Airborne for three years, was among those receiving a fresh cut. Currently searching for employment with veteran affairs in Detroit, Henson appreciated the community support.

"They ran us to death. Physical training all the time, because we're one of the first to go," Henson said about his military service. "I'm just thankful, just thankful. It feels good to be around other veterans," Henson said.

The impact extends beyond just grooming services. For every free haircut or beard trim provided, Wahl is donating $100 to support southeastern Michigan veterans.

Webber emphasized the importance of connecting with veterans beyond just showing gratitude.

"I think it's very important not only to show gratitude but also talk to them about their time. Many of these veterans just wanted me to know how many guys were in their platoon, how many guys came home safe," Webber said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Monday night marks the first night of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, bringing packed congregations to synagogues across metro Detroit and around the world.

As Jewish communities prepare for this significant holiday, security remains a top priority amid rising antisemitic incidents nationwide.

Watch Evan Sery's video report below: Security and safety top of mind for first night of Rosh Hashanah

Monday afternoon, Rabbi Mark Miller, senior rabbi for Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, spent some time making final tweaks to a sermon he'll deliver to a packed congregation Monday night.

"The high holidays really are a big deal," Miller said. "This is when most of our people come out."

Part of the monthslong preparation for Rosh Hashanah includes extensive security planning. According to the Anti-Defamation League, 2024 saw nearly 10,000 antisemitic incidents across the United States the highest number since ADL tracking began.

David Kurzmann, senior director for community affairs for the Jewish Federation of Detroit, acknowledges the sobering reality facing Jewish communities today.

"We are deeply saddened by the fact that this is reality today," Kurzmann said.

The need for security has become universal across Jewish houses of worship.

"You will not find a temple or synagogue without security. Every single one has security presence just think about that. Jewish Americans will only feel comfortable walking into houses of worship if they see there's a visible security presence," Kurzmann said.

Miller confirmed that Temple Beth El takes comprehensive security measures but declined to discuss specific protocols.

"We don't talk about specific security protocols, but I can tell you everything that happens before people arrive to the temple from when they're in the parking lot, everything is being secured in a way I think will keep everyone safe," Miller said.

Temple Beth El is celebrating 175 years of service, having started as a small congregation in Detroit in 1850 before growing and eventually moving to Bloomfield Hills. Throughout this evolution, security has remained a constant concern.

"This temple was founded in Detroit in 1850. At the time, there were a handful of Jews in the area. As the community grew over time, the truth is they always had to maintain a sense of vigilance," Miller said.

Despite security concerns, congregation members like Nicole Jahr, Temple Beth El's director of engagement, feel protected within their community.

"I feel safer here than in the mall, movie theater or anywhere else," Jahr said.

Jahr's sentiment reflects a broader trend. According to the Jewish Federation of Detroit, there has been a historic surge in Jewish community events and activities since Hamas attacked Israel two years ago.

"We're going through a historically difficult time. I think it's important your audience appreciate how much anxiety people are feeling, how much fear and trauma still being felt from the horrific events of that day," Kurzmann said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.