Melissa Walsh
Writing Samples
The writing samples displayed here are news and features articles, reference and profile entries, or creative nonfiction essays. Though I have written numerous business proposals and narratives, due to proprietary and confidentiality constraints, I have not posted them here.
My poems and short stories also are not posted here.
In the late twenty-teens, I was a contributor to Great Lakes Scuttlebutt Magazine and Lakeland Boating and served as a reporter for Detroit Public Television's Great Lakes Now news site. I also contributed to Grosse Pointe News, covering news in Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods. Back in 2001, in addition to contributing to local magazines and The Detroit News as a freelance writer, I was a staff writer with Grosse Pointe News, covering schools and libraries. I have posted some of my earlier articles here.
I'm the recipient of the 2018 second-place award by the Michigan Press Association in the weekly media B news feature category. Link to the award-winning article
Detroit's Challenge the Wind Program Adjusts Its Sails
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt March 2021 Spring Issue 2021 (March-April)
Detroit's Goat Yard: A Sailor's Dream
Lakeland Boating January 2021 January 2021 issue, pages 32-35
The Return of The Goat Yard
Detroit River Living April 2020 "The Return of The Goat Yard"
Help Wanted: Marina Bosses Are Hiring
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt March 2020 Spring Issue 2020 (March/April)
Kids Just Want To Have Fun — At The Boat Show!
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt January 2020 Winter Issue, Jan.-Feb. 2020
GETTING STARTED WITH THE GREAT LAKES’ BEST WINTER TOY
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt November 2019 Getting Started In Ice Boating
SS Badger: The last of Lake Michigan’s car ferries
Great Lakes Now August 14th, 2019 News and Issues page
Led by Laura Mendoza, Detroit’s Firewalkers serve up smoldering throwback R&B
Detroit Metro Times August 7th, 2019 Music section
Billions Invested in Clean Water: Port Milwaukee implements a range of methods to great success
Great Lakes Now July 15th, 2019 News and Issues page
Going Green for Blue Waterways
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt July 2019 Summer Issue 2019 July/August
Restoring Howards Bay: Legacy lead and other contaminants are targets of dredging and capping.
Great Lakes Now June 28th, 2019 News and Issues page
Sail racing in the ‘D’
Grosse Pointe News May 23rd, 2019 News section
‘Smart Politics’ examined
Grosse Pointe News May 9th, 2019 News section
Stay Safe, Fear the Lake
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt May 1st, 2019 Summer Issue 2019 May/June
Thomas Hardware marks 100th anniversary
Grosse Pointe News March 21st, 2019 News section
Bringing the cup to American sailing
Grosse Pointe News March 14th, 2019 News section
Detroit Sailor, Filmmaker Presents Racing's Common Goal
Great Lakes Scuttlebutt March 2019 Spring Issue 2019 (March/April)
Officials urge, 'Build the seawall'
Grosse Pointe News February 28th, 2019 News section
Farms, Shores request urgent seawall repairs
Grosse Pointe News February 21st, 2019 News section
‘Ice dog’ on Lake St. Clair: Lone coyote using iced-over lake to travel
Grosse Pointe News February 14th, 2019 Features section
Marijuana ban written into city code
Grosse Pointe News January 31st, 2019 News section
Driver rescued from lake
Grosse Pointe News January 3rd, 2019 News section
Councilman defends controversial memes
Grosse Pointe News September 27th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - News section
Lockout halts road work
Grosse Pointe News September 20th, 2018 News section
Woods woman models living the dream
Grosse Pointe News August 30th, 2018 Pointer of Interest
Paint dealer seeks community
Grosse Pointe News August 23rd, 2018 Business news
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club grows partnership with Challenge the Wind
Grosse Pointe News August 16th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - News section
The boat ride
Grosse Pointe News August 16th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - OpEd section - 'I Say'
Seawall fix creeping forward
Grosse Pointe News July 19th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - News section
The lake’s youngest skippers in their groove
Grosse Pointe News July 5th, 2018 Features section
Where happiness is a warm puppy treat
Grosse Pointe News June 28th, 2018 Business news
Shores solidifies ‘understanding’ for lake district overflow
Grosse Pointe News June 28th, 2018 News section
Permeable Behavior
June 21st, 2018 Essays - Culture: Permeable Behavior
Grosse Pointe Equestrian: Less club, more community
Grosse Pointe News June 21st, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - Features section
Father Rich ‘a great friend’ in the Shores
Grosse Pointe News June 14th, 2018 News section
Woods couple streams family fun
Grosse Pointe News May 31st, 2018 Pointer of Interest
The boys are back in town
Grosse Pointe News May 17th, 2018 News section
Farms girl models ‘super’ in courage, joy
Grosse Pointe News May 3rd, 2018 Pointer of Interest
An Hour With... Candice S. Miller
Hour Detroit Magazine May 2018 An Hour with...
Hollier seeks support in the Pointes in Senate race
Grosse Pointe News April 26th, 2018 News section
I Say: Truth-telling: Lessons in ‘voir dire’
Grosse Pointe News April 26th, 2018 I Say
Vigil set as call to action
Grosse Pointe News April 12th, 2018 News section
Woods chaplain hits the streets
Grosse Pointe News April 5th, 2018 News: Woods chaplain hit the streets
Small business, big history
Grosse Pointe News March 29th, 2018 News: Small business, big history
Mack Avenue Records Achieves High-Style Kudos in Jazz
Grosse Pointe Magazine March 2018 MAC Grammys
Celebrating Ten Jazzy Years on The Hill
Grosse Pointe Magazine March 2018 Dirty Dog Ten Years
Judge declares mistrial in Day case
Grosse Pointe News March 22nd, 2018 Judge declares mistrial in Day case
Blues/jazz artist reawakens Detroit’s musical past
Grosse Pointe News March 15th, 2018 Pointer of Interest
America 'undragoned'
Grosse Pointe News March 1st, 2018 I Say: American 'undragoned'
Dirty Dog celebrates 10 years
Grosse Pointe News February 22nd, 2018 Business news
The Gridiron Club’s mover and shaker
Grosse Pointe News February 8th, 2018 Pointer of Interest
Day to stand trial for home invasion, sexual assault
Grosse Pointe News February 8th, 2018 Feb. 8, 2018 issue
Diverse perspectives in looking forward
Grosse Pointe News January 25th, 2018 News section
Service dog earns First Star at ‘Power Play for Heroes’
Grosse Pointe Magazine January 2018 Grosse Pointe Magazine - Jan.-Feb. 2018
Farms Teen Earns Buzz in U.S. Figure Skating
Grosse Pointe Magazine January 2018 Grosse Pointe Magazine - Jan.-Feb. 2018
Work like a dog
Grosse Pointe News January 18th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - Jan. 18, 2018 - I Say column
Water Plant’s ‘Wheeler Bottom’ passing inspection
Grosse Pointe News January 18th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - Jan. 18, 2018 - News section, 1A
Woods author uncovers secret Detroit
Grosse Pointe News January 4th, 2018 Pointer of Interest
K-9s nab suspects in home invasion
Grosse Pointe News January 4th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - Jan. 4, 2018
Farms DPS says ‘good bye’ to three officers
Grosse Pointe News January 4th, 2018 Grosse Pointe News - Jan. 4, 2018
The literature of civic life
Grosse Pointe News December 28th, 2017
Farms signs ordinance amended for First Amendment protection
Grosse Pointe News December 7th, 2017
Day remanded until trial for Woods home invasion, sexual assault
Grosse Pointe News December 7th, 2017
Done for now
Grosse Pointe News December 7th, 2017
Day to stand trial for home invasion, sexual assault
Grosse Pointe News November 23rd, 2017
Gerald Day bound over for trial
Grosse Pointe News November 9th, 2017
Theros elected mayor
Grosse Pointe News November 9th, 2017
My rock hammer of curiousity
Grosse Pointe News October 26th, 2017
Public Safety Authority proposal to be drafted
Grosse Pointe News October 26th, 2017
First contested mayoral race since 2003
Grosse Pointe News October 19th, 2017
Residents raise concerns about yard-sign ordinance
Grosse Pointe News September 14th, 2017
The Wild West of Automotive Technology and ‘White Hat’ Hacking
Powerplay Communications July 2017 'Content Solutions' blog post - The Wild West of Automotive Technology and ‘White Hat’ Hacking
Enterprise Content Management presentation
Melissa Walsh March 23rd, 2017
A Phenomenal Day for Hockey
Pointe Media March 2016 Grosse Pointe Magazine - March/April 2016 Issue
Driverless Cars and the Cost of Active Safety
Powerplay Communications March 3rd, 2016 Driverless Cars and the Cost of Active Safety
A Big Tilt for Grosse Pointe Community
Pointe Media January 2016 Grosse Pointe Magazine - January/February 2016
The Reel Deal
Service Truck Magazine September 2015 The Reel Deal
Grosse Pointe's Super Novices Hit 'The Brick'
Pointe Media July 2015 Grosse Pointe Magazine - July/August 2015
History Channel's Sons of Liberty: Void of Common Sense
Powerplay Communications (self) February 5th, 2015 Blog post - History Channel's Sons of Liberty: Void of Common Sense
Girls Enjoy Hockey's Great Adventure
Pointe Media January 2014 Grosse Pointe Magazine - January/February 2014
Rivertown Survivor
Hour Detroit Magazine December 2013 Rivertown Survivor
Grosse Pointe Public Schools: The details on our impressive high schools
Pointe Media August 2013
The Fountain of Youth Is the Frozen Pond
Powerplay Communications April 17th, 2013 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "The Fountain of Youth Is the Frozen Pond"
How to Love Your Hockey Player
Powerplay Communications February 12th, 2013 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "How to Love Your Hockey Player"
6 Great Truths that Disabled Hockey Brings to Light
Powerplay Communications February 6th, 2013 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "6 Great Truths that Disabled Hockey Brings to Light"
10 Things Good Hockey Parents Know About Hockey
Powerplay Communications January 17th, 2013 Hockey Mom Sense: 10 Things Good Hockey Parents Know About Hockey
Native North American Firsts (as Project Editor)
Gale Group
Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes (as Project Editor)
Gale Group
The Rookie Hockey Mom: How to Play the Game's Toughest Position (author & publisher)
Powerplay Communications 2012 Rookie Hockey Mom website
Midget A Rattlers Tryouts flyer
Powerplay Communications June 2012
Contemporary Black Biography (as contributor & editor)
Gale Group
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America (as contributor & editor)
Gale Group
Debra A. Powell
Gale Group Debra A. Powell
Dorothy A. Terrell
Gale Group Dorothy A. Terrell
Kerry Washington
Gale Group Kerry Washington
Tony Perkins
Gale Group Tony Perkins
Kim Perrot
Gale Group Kim Perrot
Luscious Jackson
Gale Group Luscious Jackson
Matchbox 20
Gale Group Matchbox 20
Capitalize on Experience e-mail blast
Powerplay Communications May 2012
Business Plan for Rattlers Squirt AA Hockey Club
May 2012
Guidelines & Goals for the Rattlers Midget A Hockey Club
April 2012
A Goal-Scoring Visionary
Pointe Media December 2011 Grosse Pointe Magazine - "A Goal-Scoring Visionary"
Hockey: A Girl's Life at the Onyx
Rochester & Hills Magazine November 2011
Slang: Colloquial Poetry
Powerplay Communications November 2011 Slang: Colloquial Poetry
Rochester at Christmas: A Magical Winter Wonderland
Pointe Media November 2011
Single Mom Strong
Single Parent FUEL October 2011 FUEL Blog: "Single Mom Strong"
Coaching Mites: A Great Balancing Act
Powerplay Communications October 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Coaching Mites: A Great Balancing Act"
Marketing Communications Plan for Single Parent FUEL Ministry
September 2011
Discovering Rochester
Pointe Media September 2011
Cast a Vision
Single Parent FUEL September 2011 FUEL Blog: "Cast a Vision"
Sending a Message? postcard
Powerplay Communications July 2011
Ready, Set, Fly
Single Parent FUEL July 2011 FUEL Blog: "Ready, Set, Fly"
The New Rules of Engagement
Powerplay Communications July 2011 Hockey Mom Sens blog: "The New Rules of Engagement"
Rochester & Hills Magazine (as Managing Editor)
Pointe Media 2011
Promises Treatment Center
Salem Press June 15th, 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Group Therapy for Substance Abuse
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Brain Changes and Addiction
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Narcotics: Short- and Long-term Effects on the Body
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Symptoms of Substance Abuse
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Gender and Addiction
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Veterans and Addiction
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Military and Substance Abuse
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Addictions & Substance Abuse
Rodents and infectious disease
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions
Bioterrorism
Salem Press 2011 Salem Health: Infectious Diseases & Conditions
Hutch's Hockey Camp flyer
Powerplay Communications May 2011
Marketing Communications Plan for FASThockey (proposed)
Powerplay Communications May 2011
Hockey Mom Day
Powerplay Communications May 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Hockey Mom Day"
That 'Rapscallion' Heart of a Boy
Powerplay Communications April 2011 That 'Rapscallion' Heart of a Boy
What Can Buzz Do for Your Biz?
Powerplay Communications April 2011 What Can Buzz Do for Your Biz?
Youth Hockey Nutrition: Keep It Simple
Powerplay Communications April 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Youth Hockey Nutrition: Keep It Simple"
Hockey Mom Speak: How It Evolves
Powerplay Communications April 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Hockey Mom Speak: How It Evolves"
Religious Hockey
Powerplay Communications March 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Religious Hockey"
Great Moments Are Born from Great Opportunities
Powerplay Communications March 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog "Great Moments Are Born from Great Opportunities"
Mini-Mites: It's as Good as It Gets
Powerplay Communications March 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "Mini-Mites: It's as Good as It Gets"
The Lesson of Puck Control
Powerplay Communications March 2011 Hockey Mom Sense blog: "The Lesson of Puck Control"
Gain Editorial Extra Strength e-mail blast
Powerplay Communications February 2011
The Hockey Club
Powerplay Communications February 2011 The Hockey Club
The Will to Win
Powerplay Communications February 2011 The Will To Win
Overview marketing letter for FASThockey
January 2011
Ready, Set, Train!
Powerplay Communications January 2011
Detroit's Big Three Play the Game with Heart
Powerplay Communications January 2011 Detroit's Big Three Play the Game with Heart
Warrior/Brine lacrosse equipment retail display signage & brochure
Graphic Resource Group October 2010
Democracy & the Power of Knowledge
Powerplay Communications February 2010 Democracy & the Power of Knowledge
Schools forecast budgetary storm to strike
Grosse Pointe News January 2010
TIS Techstream marketing communications materials
Toyota Motor Sales 2007 TIS Techstream website
VCM brochure
Snap-on OEM Group 2007
Recommending a Content Management Strategy (CMS)
2007
Return on Investment (ROI) for CMS
2007
Hockey Vision Becomes a Hockey Classic
Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) March 2007
Alice Dunbar Nelson
Gale Group 2006 Alice Dunbar Nelson
CeCe Winans
Gale Group 2006 CeCe Winans
Aaron McGruder
Gale Group Aaron McGruder
Detroit Music and Things that Start with 'D'
Self 2005 Essay - Detroit Music and Things that Start with 'D'
Michigan House Calls Magazine (as Managing Editor)
Frontier 3 Advertising 2005
Beating Breast Cancer: Life-Saving Wisdom from a Survivor
Michigan House Calls Magazine 2005
Got Calcium Carbonate? Quenching Holiday Heartburn
Michigan House Calls Magazine 2005
'Tis the Season To Be Overly Stressed
Michigan House Calls Magazine 2005
Andre Benjamin
Gale Group 2005 Andre Benjamin
Antwan Patton
Gale Group 2005 Antwan Patton
Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
Gale Group 2005 Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre
Ruben Studdard
Gale Group 2005 Ruben Studdard
Sarah Streeter
Gale Group 2004 Sarah Streeter
Muriel L. Feelings
Gale Group 2004 Muriel L. Feelings
Growing up at Jake's
Grosse Pointe News January 24th, 2002
Metro area volunteers repair Pentagon roof
Detroit News January 2002
State demands public school students' files
Grosse Pointe News December 2001
Head Up. Stand Tall. It's a Lifelong Kick.
Grosse Pointe News November 22nd, 2001
Sean Lennon
Gale Group 2000