60 | SEPTEMBER 21 • 2023
SPOTLIGHT
Suit up for ‘Suitember’
D
avid Elkus, owner of Baron’s
Wholesale Clothiers in
Farmington Hills and Todd’s
Menswear in Royal Oak, has launched
Suitember, a national partnership of men’s
suit shops across the country.
Suitember is designed to highlight both
the benefits of dressing well and helping
local charities in each store’s community.
While “anything goes” dress codes have
spread across the country, customers say
wearing a suit makes a guy more effective.
Today’s modern suit appeared in the early
1900s. There were and are lots of variations:
single-breasted, double-breasted, oversized
to super-slim, wide lapels to thin lapels,
notch or peak collars, center vent, side vent,
no vent, pleats or flat front, cuffs or not.
One of the more exciting moments (with
a significant personal connection) was the
“Thunderbolt.
” Designed by Elkus’ grandfa-
ther, Nathan “Toddy” Elkus, this long coat
with wide shoulders, fly front, slash pocket
jacket with a high-waisted pant was intro-
duced in 1939. This quickly became popular-
ized as the Zoot Suit.
Elkus created a Suitember website, www.
suitember.com, which includes the history of
suits and top reasons to wear one.
The partnership helps local charities in
each store’s community. In the Michigan
community, the charity will be Friendship
Circle in West Bloomfield and others still to
be determined.
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz to be Honored
Each year, the Citizens
Research Council of
Michigan hosts a fundraising
event that brings together
elected officials, corporate
executives and commu-
nity leaders to recognize
the importance of its work
and honor an outstanding
Michigan leader.
This year,
the council will
be honoring
Dr. Ora Hirsch
Pescovitz, presi-
dent of Oakland
University, with the
prestigious Eugene
A. Gargaro Public
Service Award in
recognition of her public
service and commitment
to civic engagement at
its annual public policy
dinner at St. John’s Resort in
Plymouth Sept. 27 starting at
5 p.m.
Dr. Pescovitz, has more
than 30 years of experience
leading positive change in
academic health centers
and universities, as well as
delivering innovations in
bench-to-bedside discovery
and facilitating collaborations
between academic and com-
munity partners.
The Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr.
Public Service Award recog-
nizes and lauds these indi-
viduals for these efforts. On
behalf of the citi-
zens of Michigan
and the local
governments they
serve, it thanks
them for lifetimes
of service. Recent
honorees include
Paul Hillegonds,
John Dingell, Doug
Roberts, Dennis
Archer, and Kelly Rossman-
McKinney, posthumously.
Dr. Pescovitz will also be
part of a panel of higher edu-
cation experts to discuss the
importance, opportunities
and challenges of providing
higher education in Michigan
in the 21st century. For more
information, visit https://crc-
mich.org/event/2023-annu-
al-public-policy-dinner.
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz
Suicide Prevention Training
A Single Soul, a suicide pre-
vention program at Jewish
Family Service, is forming a
Suicide Prevention Training
Cohort for 30 mental health
professionals as well as cohort
of 20 youth mental health
professionals that begins next
month.
Members will receive com-
prehensive, evidence-based
trainings in suicide prevention,
intervention and treatment.
Trainings will cover screen-
ing, assessment, intervention,
safety planning and treatment
options and prepare you to be
a part of a suicide safer com-
munity.
Social workers who partici-
pate will also receive free CEUs
when applicable.
Apply today at jfsdetroit.
org/asinglesoul.
Questions? Contact Trisha
Mindel at tmindel@jfsdetroit.
org or call (248) 592-226.
Religious Heritage
Bus Tour
Join the Interfaith Leadership
Council as it explores some of
Detroit’s most historical sacred
sites, including Masjid Wali
Muhammad, Bethel A.M.E.
and the Isaac Agree Downtown
Synagogue on Friday, Oct. 13.
The $70 ticket price includes
lunch at Sinbad’s in Detroit and
a five-hour bus tour.
The Bianco Tour Bus will
depart from Temple Beth El in
Bloomfield Township at 10 a.m.
Attendees should plan to arrive
by 9:45.
Register at https://tinyurl.
com/3mvk6cn5 to reserve your
seat. Tickets are limited.