Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica late Monday or Tuesday, leaving metro Detroit residents with ties to the Caribbean island anxiously waiting for news from family and friends.

Yanique Lee, a Jamaican living in metro Detroit, said she's deeply concerned about her loved ones still on the island.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Local woman worried about family as Jamaica braces for historic hurricane

"I'm very worried, I'm very sad and I pray that the storm passes," Lee said.

Lee said her family and friends have already been sharing videos with her, showing roofs being ripped from homes and cars submerged under water as the hurricane approaches.

"The ocean lifted up and the water was just going everywhere," Lee said.

When asked about her concerns for future visits to Jamaica, Lee expressed uncertainty about what she might find.

"Yes. I'm worried it might be disastrous," Lee said.

Related video: How powerful is Hurricane Melissa? How powerful if Hurricane Melissa?

Henry Montague, president of the Jamaican Association of Michigan, said he and the organization's 30 active members have all been in touch with friends and family on the island.

"I'm worried about the rain, how much rain we're going to get," Montague said.

Despite the concerns, Montague emphasized the resilient nature of Jamaican people.

"We're tough and we're resilient and we feel we can handle what mother nature has to offer," Montague said.

That resilience is being tested for Detroit resident Tamika Gaines, who traveled to Jamaica's coast Thursday for what was supposed to be a vacation. Her flight home was scheduled for Sunday, but she remains stranded as the hurricane approaches.

"Things turned south on Saturday," Gaines said.

Related video: Jamaica warned to shelter in place as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches Jamaica warned to shelter in place as Category 5 Hurricane Melissa approaches

The resort where Gaines is staying is now preparing for the worst, rationing food and boarding up buildings.

"Do I feel I'm going to make it home? I don't know if I'm going to make it home," Gaines said.

Despite the uncertainty, Gaines said many Jamaicans are calling this one of the bigger storm systems they've seen, but they're reassuring visitors that their Caribbean island is known for its resilience.

"People in Jamaica tend to be more resilient," Gaines said.

Montague echoed that sentiment, describing resilience as a Jamaican trademark.

"Maybe it's our trademark. We don't fear anything. We're just going to sit back and wait. And then when it comes, we're going to ride it out however it goes. We'll ride it out and we'll be fine," Montague said.

Montague said he and other members of the Jamaican Association of Michigan are monitoring the hurricane while remaining hopeful and standing by to help in any way they can.

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.

For Italian Heritage Month, there's no better place to celebrate than Andiamo in Warren, a restaurant that has been proudly serving the community since 1990. Owner Joe Vicari says he's watched kids grow up eating his Italian cuisine and later get married under his roof.

Watch the full story in the video below

92-year-old pasta maker keeps Italian traditions alive at Andiamo Warren

Andiamo in Warren is the birthplace for what has become a more than 30-year career for Vicari, who says he's standing on the shoulders of a giant. That giant is Chef Aldo, who Vicari describes as an encyclopedia of Italian cuisine and a man who unfortunately, passed away in 2011.

"99% of the recipes are Chef Aldo's," Vicari said.

The restaurant has been serving Aldo's homemade recipes for 36 years and counting. For Vicari, this location holds special meaning.

"This is where his home was, too," Vicari said. "He ended up being like a grandfather to us."

Vicari's Sicilian heritage makes him the proud owner of Andiamo, and this Warren location remains dear to him.

"This is the original one, so it's closest to my heart," Vicari said.

This restaurant is the origin of what has become a 25-restaurant group under Vicari's belt. He credits much of his success to his old friend Aldo, whom he brought out of retirement to lead the charge in the kitchen.

"It was the best thing that ever happened to me and Chef Aldo, because it gave him life again," Vicari said.

Now, it's up to the crew to make sure the legacy continues. 92-year-old Angelina is one of two ladies who've been at the restaurant since the beginning.

"Yeah, I make pasta every day," Angelina said.

Working alongside her is Tanya, who has been learning from Angelina for years.

"She keeps me young," Tanya said about Angelina. "I worked from the beginning with her. She teaches me everything."

Anna, another pasta maker, has been with the restaurant for 36 years.

"36 years," Anna said.

The ladies are tasked with making pasta from scratch daily.

"Lasagna, ravioli, tortellini, everything," Tanya said.

Vicari appreciates their dedication to the craft.

"The moment they come in, they start working and they stay working until the moment that they're done," Vicari said.

For Angelina and Anna, the work is more than just a job.

"You have to teach the younger people to make stuff," Angelina said.

"I love this place and I come every morning and make my pasta and go home," Anna said.

When asked if she plans on retiring anytime soon, Angelina answered plainly: "What else would I do?"

Recipe below for Osso Buco

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.

Watch our other coverage from Italian Heritage Month in the videos below

Aurora on the Lake brings authentic Italian cuisine to Commerce Township waterfront

Aurora on the Lake brings authentic Italian cuisine to Commerce Township waterfront

How SheWolf is bringing a taste of old Rome to Detroit's Cass Corridor

How SheWolf is bringing a taste of old Rome to Detroit's Cass Corridor

Watch below: Local Rochester restaurant brings authentic Italian flavors to Michigan

Local Rochester restaurant brings authentic Italian flavors to Michigan

Watch below: Italian Heritage Month celebrates Detroit's rich cultural legacy

Italian Heritage Month celebrates Detroit's rich cultural legacy

For three years, the Michigan Museum of Horror has been collecting all things freaky, creepy and crawly in Monroe. The two-story horror museum focuses on both the real aspects of horror and the fictional aspects, making it a perfect destination during spooky season and beyond.

Watch Jeff's full story in the video below

Michigan Museum of Horror offers year-round scares for adults in Monroe

"October is definitely our busier time, but honestly all year long, people like to see creepy stuff," said Nate Thompson, owner of Michigan Museum of Horror.

The museum is packed with movie memorabilia featuring iconic horror characters like Michael Myers, Scream's Ghostface, and Jason's hockey mask.

Thompson says Monroe is the perfect place for his horror museum, fitting right into a community he believes is already haunted.

"I have heard noises that only other humans should be able to make, but I'm here alone. It's only a coincidence so many times before it starts to become a pattern," Thompson said.

One of Thompson's favorite things to collect are Ouija boards, which basically serve as wallpaper throughout the museum. However, he says they sometimes do unexpected things.

"If I put an Ouija board up on the shelf and it falls over, I know it doesn't want to be there anymore," Thompson said.

The museum has been so successful that they're outgrowing their space and now opening new locations out of state.

"It's like creepy hoarding. Somebody's got to have an intervention with me at some point and tell me to stop buying these things," Thompson said.

Thompson says he's grateful there are other people who share his passion for the macabre.

"Every day, I am grateful there are other weird people like me who love to see stuff like this," Thompson said.

The Michigan Museum of Horror is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon through 8 p.m., with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Fridays. More information about the museum can be found online.

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 Clinton Township family has turned their passion for Halloween into a force for good, creating a homemade haunted house that raises money for diabetes research while delivering spine-tingling scares to visitors.

Jeff Wirick has spent 12 years perfecting his haunted attraction at 22943 Phelps Street in Clinton Township, driven by a lifelong love of frightening people that dates back to his childhood.

Watch Jeffrey Lindblom's video report below: Haunted house in Clinton Township raises money for diabetes research

"My passion for scaring is my driving force behind this haunted house," Wirick said. "Ever since I was a little kid, I used to scare my mom all the time."

Wirick bought his current house specifically to accommodate his elaborate Halloween setup, which takes over the family's acre of land each October. His girlfriend of five years, Jess Johnson, shares his enthusiasm for the holiday, though she prefers a different role.

"We balance each other out. It's just a lot of fun," Johnson said, describing herself as more of the "giving out candy type" rather than the scaring type.

Take a tour of the haunted house below:

The haunted house has become a year-round project for the family, with preparations consuming most of September.

"It is almost 24/7 the whole month of September," Johnson said.

Wirick's 17-year-old daughter Kaylene has grown up surrounded by her father's frightening hobby, making her somewhat of a celebrity at her high school.

"Oh, yeah. I'm known for my house, yeah," Kaylene said.

Growing up as the target of her father's scares has made Kaylene particularly resilient to frightening experiences.

"I experienced it a lot growing up. I was a big target," she said. "I don't frighten too easily."

However, in 2020, the family faced a real-life challenge when Kaylene was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 12.

"It's different to have diabetes growing up as a teenager," Kaylene said. "It took a while to understand how it impacted my life because I didn't understand the severity of it when it first happened."

The diagnosis was difficult for the entire family, particularly Wirick, who wished he could take away his daughter's condition.

"I felt really sad for her. I wish I could have taken it away, but there was nothing I can do," Wirick said.

Despite the challenges, Kaylene credits her father with supporting her through her health journey.

"It's been really easy having him with me through it," she said.

The family's experience with diabetes inspired them to use their haunted house for a greater purpose beyond entertainment.

"Once it got so big and my daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, I was like, 'Maybe we should raise money for that,'" Wirick said.

Kaylene remains optimistic about the future and the potential for medical breakthroughs.

"I do have a lot of faith and hope towards finding a cure," she said.

The haunted house operates on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free, but the family welcomes donations to support diabetes research.

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.