The month of October is dedicated to spreading awareness of domestic violence and those who are or have been victims of it.

Wayne County is facing one of the largest foreclosures in the nation’s history, with the city of Detroit being hit the worst. The 2008 financial crisis has made foreclosures and evictions all too common in many neighborhoods. The shame and isolation that many feel when having to face eviction can be crippling, but community groups and labor unions are banning together to fight for people struggling to keep their homes.

Any other time of the year, people pass an old, abandoned hospital or warehouse without a thought about the story behind it or what possibly lurks within it at night. However, around Halloween time, everything suddenly becomes spookier.

Whatever it is that gives abandoned buildings the extra scare factor around this time of year, it seems to be all the rage to check them out and see exactly what the big deal is. After all, it’s just a building, right?

Dearborn’s Centennial Library held its annual “Big Read” event and is using Edgar Allan Poe to do so. The Centennial held a teaser event on October 8 to showcase what audiences can look forward to. Attendees of the event ranged from Mayor O’Reilly of Dearborn and numerous sponsors including HFC’s own Joyce Hommel of the Eshleman Library.